Shweta Chari, an Electronics Engineer and the Founder & CEO of Toybank had a vision of reaching out to children through fun and play using toys. The journey began on August 15th, 2004. A small idea that started in a small restaurant in Bombay has over the years gathered momentum with the help and support of friends and volunteers from all corners of Bombay. Within a short span of time and with very minimal resources, Toybank is bringing smiles on thousands of deprived faces. Toybank acts as a leveler of the society by taking toys from those that can give and distributing them to the ones in need.In a way Toybank attempts to prove the belief of John.F.Kennedy, SeIf the free society cannot help the many that are poor, it can never save the few who are rich. SŒ
Toybank honestly dreams to place a toy in the hands of every poor child of India and the world. The toy shapes the psyche of the children, so utmost care is taken to give only unbiased and morally correct toys to children. Toybank does not take Barbie dolls; toy guns; violent toys or any other toy that discriminates.
As through the years, toys were collected, segregated and gift-wrapped and then gifted on a one-on-one basis to the kids from all over Bombay, Shweta soon realized that the beneficiaries of toys were impacted much beyond her expectation. The children began to recognise that play was one of their core rights. They also began expressing themselves better and were more in tune with their lives and circumstances.
Shweta felt the need to expand and reach out to many more children in India. With the help of volunteers Toybank also started monitoring the children that were impacted through the Toybank activities. The events became more intense with more focus given to value education to the children while during the toy distributions.
Toybank now runs in Bangalore and Pune with the support from core Toybankers Vinay and Swetha.
