Merrill Lynch and Sesame Workshop will launch a life-skills education program called WorldwideKids, with $5 million in startup funds from Merrill Lynch.
The program will provide multi-media tools for teachers and parents to teach life skills to 3- to 6-year-olds. Topics include global diversity, personal responsibility, good financial habits and community building. Sesame Workshop, the producer of Sesame Street, will develop materials for DVDs, a Web portal, print and activities in seven languages for 14 countries. Merrill Lynch employees in North America, South America, Asia and Europe will help execute the program as volunteers at local pre-schools, community centers and child care centers.
The venture builds on Merrill Lynch and Sesame Workshops’ joint financial literacy program, Talking Cents.
“With offices in 36 countries, Merrill Lynch understands the need for global awareness and is committed to providing children the tools to be effective participants in an increasingly global economy,” said Chairman-CEO Stan O’Neal in a statement. “We partnered with Sesame Workshop because no one captures the hearts and minds of children as effectively and memorably as the furry friends living on the longest street in the world, Sesame Street.”
