MMDA partners with Sesame Street on road safety campaign for kids

MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim and Sesame Workshop director for Asia-Pacific Will De Pippo sign an agreement for a three-year educational drive which will aim to help kids and families learn about road safety, the environment, and emergency awareness, at the Children's Road Safety Park in Malate on Monday, March 18, 2019. Danny Pata

Children in Metro Manila can now enjoy learning about road safety with their favorite Sesame Street characters.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has partnered with the nonprofit organization behind the iconic television series for a three-year educational campaign on road safety, waste management, caring for the environment, and preparing for emergencies.

The MMDA, led by Chairman Danny Lim, signed a memorandum of agreement with Sesame Workshop at the Children's Road Safety Park in Malate, Manila to formally launch the campaign on Monday.

“We are very excited about this initiative which focuses on children, the future citizens of Metro Manila. It is everybody’s responsibility to teach kids respect for the rules and compassion for the community, and we at the MMDA are proud to be with Sesame Workshop at the frontline of this endeavor," Lim said in the MMDA's press statement.

"We hope that through our line-up of activities under this partnership, the kids will carry out these lessons throughout childhood and into their adult lives as well,” he added.

Sesame Workshop director for Asia Pacific Will DePippo also welcomed the partnership, saying the organization is excited to help teach kids road safety and other important community matters.

“For the last 50 years, Sesame Street has brought the life-changing benefits of early learning to children around the globe,” De Pippo said.

“We’re proud to partner with MMDA on a campaign where Elmo, Cookie Monster and Big Bird are helping to deliver educational messages in a fun and engaging way for children and their families," he added.

Through the partnership, the MMDA and Sesame Street will make wall art along the major highways of Metro Manila, conduct a family fun run, create an MMDA Children's Handbook, and launch a children's exposition that "is essentially a cross between an educational theme park and [an] experiential museum." — Joseph Tristan Roxas/BM, GMA News