Opentree Foundation, The (Toybank)

The Toybank Model:

The NGO believes that spending time with children is key to their development process rather than showering them with expensive gifts. Toybank works towards bridging the gap between children from different backgrounds by creative play, group events and community events. Toys are also a means to channelize their energies towards developing social and communication skills,this forms the premise of their ideology of Power of Play. 

Toybank works with a network of volunteers to execute their program to induce familiarity with the play groups where children are in an environment of comfort to develop their confidence and help them become better thinkers. Since inception Toybank has touched the lives of around 500,000+ children from various backgrounds through their centers across 28 states/UTs. It works with several partner NGOs and has also started work in rural areas.

Donors are encouraged to give toys in good condition and it ensures that these are clean and appropriate for children before distribution. Toys are gift wrapped and distributed one-on-one to less privileged children. Toybank has noticed visible changes (beyond expectations) in the children they guide at their various centers in terms of better attendance at schools, increased efficiency in English, better emotional balance and reduced aggression.