A toy story

Aug 31, 2014 8:00 AM PHT

Rappler.com

SUMMARY

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Indian engineer Shweta Chari toyed with the idea of a play place. Ten years later, her Toybank project gives less privileged children the joy of play

MANILA, Philippines – It’s been 10 years since Shweta Chari toyed with the idea of putting up a place where children could play.

Shweta wasn’t thinking of the potentially profitable business of play schools. She was thinking of a play place for street urchins and child laborers.

An engineer by profession, Shweta has seen children work in hazardous conditions such as firework factories.

She wanted to help them regain their childhood.

“Simple toys can make them children again,” says Shweta, who eventually founded Toybank with some friends.

Now on its 10th year, Toybank provides toys and a place to play to kids who were forced to grow up too fast because of poverty. They accept toy donations and welcome volunteers who could play with the kids. – Rappler.com

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