Tolerance for Tots: USAID Funds Regional TV Program for Kids in the Caucasus
On January 29, 2005, the USAID-funded Children’s Tolerance Education project (CTEP) began broadcasting an innovative new television program for children in Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. “Stories from Our Yard” is an educational program aimed at children ages 5-11 that promotes the values of tolerance, cooperation, and compassion through the introduction of conflict transformation skills and behaviors. In keeping with the Caucasus region’s tradition of children’s puppet theater, “Stories from Our Yard” uses locally designed puppets to deliver its message.
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| In keeping with the Caucasus region’s tradition of children’s puppet theater, “Stories from Our Yard” uses locally-designed puppets to deliver its message. |
CTEP is one of the first region-wide initiatives to be funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in the Caucasus. The project is co-funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and is implemented by Save the Children in collaboration with local Georgian, Armenian, and Azeri television stations.
“The Children’s Tolerance Education Project will promote respect in children for the dignity and worth of all people and will foster the values critical to peace and democracy. These values are particularly needed as the countries of the South Caucasus try to re-establish their communities and work towards a better future,” said Marina Ushveridze, CTEP’s Regional Coordinator.
To highlight and celebrate CTEP’s regional focus, each country hosted a premiere event for the first episode of “Stories from Our Yard.” These screenings were attended by the U.S. Ambassadors to Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, members of each country’s government, representatives from international donor organizations, children’s advocates, educators—and of course, many children.
Thirty-six new episodes will be produced over the next two years. While the basic scripts for each episode will be the same in each country, the program will be locally produced in each national language (Georgian, Armenian, and Azeri). Additionally, culturally-specific sets, costumes, characters and music will be developed for each country.
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