New Muppets intro Panwapa

By Staff -- Playthings, 10/11/2007 2:03:00 PM

Azibo, Whoopi Goldberg & Elmo

NEW YORK—Elmo, Big Bird and Oscar are world-renowned, but it’s their new counterparts, Azibo, Athena, and Baabra who are the focus of a new worldwide initiative geared to help kids meet the challenges of a global environment. Panwapa, a joint initiative of Sesame Workshop and the Merrill Lynch Foundation was launched this week to help foster global citizenship. Whoopi Goldberg, United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, was on hand to help with the launch.

Panwapa, which means “here on this earth” in the Tshiluba language, aims to foster the foundation for global citizenship and community participation in young children, ages 4 to 7. Featuring an entirely new group of Muppet characters, Panwapa consists of an interactive website, www.panwapa.com, a DVD, and print materials that are available in five languages — Arabic, English, Japanese, Mandarin and Spanish.

Panwapa is available at no charge on iTunes and starting January 2008, Panwapa will be available on free video-on-demand (VOD), via PBS KIDS Sprout, the 24-hour preschool network for kids ages 2-5 and their parents and caregivers. Additionally, Panwapa games and information will be available at SproutOnline.com.  Both media platforms support Sesame Workshop’s and Merrill Lynch’s outreach efforts in reaching as many children as possible.

“21st century children live in the global village from the moment they are born. The sooner they learn to think of this as a wonderful, fun adventure, the better global citizens they will grow into,” stated David Woollcombe, founder and president, Peace Child International and Panwapa Advisor.  “I am delighted that Sesame Workshop has taken upon itself the task of introducing its young audiences to their global neighborhood: their experience and creativity equips them better than any other organization to ensure that young people all over the world come to view the global neighborhood as a cornucopia of opportunities.”