In 2025, Sesame Workshop South Africa continued to bring joyful learning to children and families across the country through a powerful mix of broadcast, digital, and in-person programmes. By meeting children where they are, on screens, on phones, and in their communities, we were able to reach widely, connect deeply, and support learning in meaningful, lasting ways.
Broadcast Media Reach
Broadcast television remained a vital gateway to early learning, helping ensure that children from all backgrounds could access trusted, developmentally appropriate content. Each month, national broadcast platforms reached an average of 18.6 million viewers, including 3.5 million children and 4.9 million families. These programmes provided consistent exposure to curriculum-aligned learning experiences that support children’s growth at the most critical stages of development.
Digital Platform Reach
Digital platforms allowed learning to continue beyond the television screen. Our YouTube content reached millions, generating 35.8 million views and more than 915,000 hours of watch time, evidence of strong engagement and repeated viewing. With a growing community of 93,614 subscribers and 187,228 children reached, digital spaces became places where learning could be revisited, shared, and reinforced over time.
WhatsApp Chatbot Reach
WhatsApp played a particularly important role in connecting directly with caregivers. Through this channel, we engaged 8,891 active users, supporting learning for 17,782 children through caregiver participation. It also enabled us to listen. Four structured surveys completed by 823 parents provided valuable insights into caregiving practices, beliefs, and needs, helping us adapt and strengthen our programmes to better support families.
In-person Programme & Community Reach
Alongside media, in-person programmes offered deeper, hands-on support in communities. We worked directly with 1,081 adults, including parents and caregivers, educators, and government and sector partners, building skills, confidence, and shared commitment to children’s development. These efforts reached 18,083 children directly and indirectly, reinforcing learning through play, guidance, and supportive learning environments at home and in classrooms. Sixty-one percent of participants were women, reflecting our success in reaching those most closely involved in children’s daily care and learning.
Our in-person work spanned all nine provinces, across urban and rural settings in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Northern Cape, North West, and Limpopo. While broadcast ensured national reach and universal access, community-based programmes added depth, providing focused, responsive support where it was needed most.
Together, these integrated efforts helped ensure that children across South Africa had more opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive, today and into the future.
