With her aqua-green complexion, yellow kurta and mop of braided hair, Raya is Sesame Street’s newest addition to the Muppet family. As part of Sesame Street’s Cleaner, Healthier, Happier campaign in Bangladesh, India and Nigeria, 6-year-old Raya’s mission is to teach adults and children about proper sanitation and hygiene—especially when it comes to toilets.

“Water, sanitation and hygiene [known collectively as WASH] is one of the most pressing global development challenges of our times – it is a major cause of child mortality and morbidity, a major cause of school absenteeism and, as we are learning, a major contributor to malnutrition,” says Stephen B. Sobhani, Vice President International of Sesame Workshop, Sesame Street’s chapter on development issues. “What is perhaps most exceptional about WASH-related diseases, is that they are largely preventable,” Sobhani adds.

As the deadline and conclusion of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) approaches, there have been strides forward in terms of improving health and reducing child mortality. However, there is still a long way to go before many of the targets proposed by the MDGs can be achieved. An estimated 2.5 billion people in the world still do not have access to safe and clean toilets. In India, about half of the households in the country drink from contaminated water supplies, exposing people to a range of potentially life-threatening diseases.

In an effort to provide information, while also promoting positive behaviors such as hand-washing and using indoor bathrooms, Raya, the first character to be developed in three countries simultaneously, was brought to life. According to Sobhani, the decision to use Raya, a child character, is designed to change the common perception of children being passive recipients of global health campaigns, and instead making children active participants.

“Sesame Street Muppets – whether they are little monsters like our beloved Cookie Monster and Elmo, or humanoids like Raya – are unique in ways that extend far beyond their colorful appearances and personalities,” Sobhani says. “They are created to not talk about children’s issues, but talk directly to children about issues,”
he adds.

With the draft of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) nearing the final approval stage at the UN’s General Assembly in September, striking a balance between practical interventions (such as building clean and safe toilets) and educational interventions to change behaviors, is as crucial as ever. To this end, Sesame Workshop has made a commitment to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon’s Every Woman Every Child effort to become more deeply engaged in children’s health around the world.

“As the world’s largest informal educator of children whose mission is to help kids grow smarter, stronger and kinder, we at Sesame Workshop know that education can take many different forms – from developing basic numeracy and literacy skills, to incorporating critical healthy habits such as proper WASH behaviors into daily life, to fostering a deep appreciation for the similarities and differences we share with our neighbors,” Sobhani says.

In an interview with UNESCO MGIEP, 6-year-old Raya tells us more about her favorite topics: toilets and hand washing

UNESCO MGIEP: Toilets are a funny topic to be talking about—why are they so important?

Raya: Funny like a joke? I know a good one: Two toilets walk into a party. One says to the other: “You look quite nervous, everything OK?” The other says: “I’m not nervous, I’m just a little flushed.”

Get it? FLUSHED! I crack myself up! But seriously, talking about toilets is important because, well, everyone in the world has to go. Using a toilet is the safe and healthy way to do it.

UNESCO MGIEP: What would you tell kids around the world to help them stay clean and safe?

Raya: I’d tell them the same thing I tell all my friends: When you have to go, always make sure you go in a toilet….and when you’re done, be sure to wash your hands for 20 seconds. I like to sing a song when I wash my hands. When I’m done singing, my hands are nice, clean and germ-free.

UNESCO MGIEP: Do you always wash your hands?

Raya: You bet I do! Washing my hands keeps me clean and healthy. In fact, I just washed them. When was the last time you washed yours?

UNESCO MGIEP: How can you help other children remember to wash their hands too?

Raya: I remind my friends by doing two things. First, I tell them that hands that look clean still might have germs on them, and those germs make you sick. Second, I show them how it’s done. It’s not that hard, but it’s important to scrub them with soap for 20 seconds. Ohh, and don’t forget to clean between your fingers too.

UNESCO MGIEP: We noticed that you always wear sandals everywhere you go. Do you ever take them off?

Raya: I love my sandals. Not only are they fashionable but they help keep me healthy by keeping my feet clean and safe from germs on the ground. I do take them off when I go to bed of course, but I ALWAYS wear them to the toilet.

UNESCO MGIEP: Some people are a bit embarrassed when talking about toilets. Why aren’t you shy about it?

Raya: I’m not shy about it because I know that everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, poops and pees. That’s why I think it’s important for every single kid and grownup to be able to use a clean toilet when they need to go. It’s not embarrassing. It’s actually normal.