Ethiopian 'Sesame Street' teaches life-saving lessons

(CNN) -- For millions of Ethiopian children, it's the most cherished moment of their day: a wide-eyed, smiling giraffe hops in front of them, crooning funny songs in a language they can understand.

The beloved sock puppet, known as Tsehai, is the star of a ground-breaking TV show that's been revolutionizing childhood education in the east African country.

The brainchild of Ethiopian educator Bruktawit Tigabu and her husband Shane Etzenhouser, "Tsehai Loves Learning" is the only children's TV show in Ethiopia in Amharic, the nation's official and most widely spoken language.

The show uses puppets and animation to teach young Ethiopians about sanitation and hygiene as well as the importance of culture and honesty.

"They don't realize that they've been taught on TV," says Tigabu from her cramped studio in suburban Addis Ababa where awards share space with the paraphernalia of puppetry. More reading on CNN