Jalan Sesama

This article is about an upcoming project, product, or production.

Jalan Sesama is the upcoming Indonesian co-production of Sesame Street. Jalan Sesama means "street for all" and was inspired by the concept of togetherness and diversity. "The name was inspired by the concept of togetherness and diversity of the program," said Putri Rahartana, senior producer of Sesame Street Indonesia. Aside to teaching letters and numbers, the program will teach about Indonesia's diversity, environmental awareness, and positive character building

The program will start filming in May 2007 and is set to debut on Indonesia television later in 2007. The show is contracted to run until 2010. It is currently in production with local company Creative Indigo Productions and New York-based, non-profit educational organization Sesame Workshop. The partnership will produce three seasons -- or 156 half-hour episodes -- of a completely original Indonesian-language series to be shown nationwide in Indonesia .

The program is different from Boneka Sesame, in which the American Sesame Street program is simply dubbed into Indonesian.

In March 2006, Secretary Rice announced a new U.S.-sponsored Indonesian Sesame Street program to teachers and students, then titled Sesame Indonesia. The Secretary of State made an announcement that the United States will donate US$8.5 million to help Indonesia to develop the TV program.

Jalan Sesama will feature stories, songs and music in the Indonesian language and will be set in an Indonesian village rather than the New York neighbourhood featured in the main American version of the educational program. "We want to raise local cultural values, which in the cities are often no longer held, such as gotong royong," said Mohammad Zuhdi, the research director of Indonesia's PSI Studio Center, the show's co-producer along with the New York-based Sesame Workshop..

The show will feature new Indonesian Muppet characters, locally produced live action and animated films, and classic Sesame Street segments featuring Elmo, Big Bird and other Sesame characters. Newly created characters include Momon, a five-year-old boy who learns to draw letters and loves drawing and counting; Putri an active young girl who is always asking Momon for help; Tantan a wise female orangutan that settles every dispute on Jalan Sesama; and Jabrik, a baby rhinoceros that is always complaining and laughing . Several puppets will wear Islamic veils as part of Dr. Rice's broader message that Western culture can co-exist peacefully with moderate Islam.

It's possible also that the program will introduce other world cultures, such as American culture. "But it's must not in the beginning of the program. We will concentrate on local content in the initial program," said Sesame Street Indonesia's research and education director Muhammad Zuhdi, who is also a lecturer at Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University.

However, it is still uncertain which TV station will screen Jalan Sesama because the production house is seeking for a TV station that shares the same vision and mission, and not just motivated by commercial goals. Jalan Sesama, like Sesame Street as screened in the US, will not have commercial breaks in the middle of the programs.

USAID's Sesame Street Indonesia partnership complements President Bush's broader $157 million education initiative for Indonesia, designed to improve the quality of basic education throughout the country.

“And so it's really exciting for me to be here in Indonesia. I'm very glad that the United States and Indonesia have joined in this partnership for this wonderful school. It is a part of an initiative that President Bush announced when he was in Indonesia two years ago. And today we are announcing $8.5 million for a program to bring Sesame Street to the schools of Indonesia.”

- Dr. Rice

USAID Mission Director William M. Frej said: "By improving school readiness in basic literacy and numeracy, the Indonesian Sesame Street program will help millions of Indonesia's children develop the skills they need to have a successful school experience."

Marty Robinson trained the 12 Indonesian Muppeteers from March 13-22.

Media Gallery

Jalan Sesama 's Muppeteers play characters in a puppeteer training session.

Momon and Putri bear a close resemblance to Elmo and Ernie in the original cast [Reuters]

Tantan the orangutan will dispense words of wisdom [Reuters]

Jalan Sesama is expected to begin broadcasts later this year [Reuters]

Children sing along with two puppets at the Jalan Sesama, the Indonesian version of Sesame Street© AFP Bay Ismoyo

Tantan the orangutan, one of the four new characters of Jalan Sesama, the Indonesian version of Sesame Street
© AFP Bay Ismoyo

Jalan Sesama Production Crews

• Sesame Workshop Senior Producer for Sesame Street Indonesia: Ginger Brown
• Local Production Company: Creative Indigo Productions
• Managing Director: Robby T. Winarka
• Senior Producer: Putri Rahartana
• Research and Education director: Muhammad Zuhdi
• Project Director: Atun Purbo
• Director: Key Mangunsong
• Screenwriter: Ratih Kumala