Six New Characters Foster Global Citizenship From A Floating
Island Panwapa helps children gain empathy for others while
encouraging a broader international perspective. When New York
City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that October 10, 2007 was
officially "Panwapa Day" in New York City, it was one of many
such celebrations around the world. Political leaders also
celebrated in Mexico City, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and London, marking
the launch of a multimedia project designed to foster global
citizenship to today's four- to seven-year-olds, while
encouraging community participation. Answering the need for a
child-oriented global awareness curriculum The road to these
celebrations began in London, where Sesame Workshop and the
Merrill Lynch Foundation together hatched a plan to bring a
global awareness curriculum to kids. They did so knowing that
there was very little media available to children that would
help them make sense of our ever-changing world. For example,
there was no curriculum available that would