The Power Of Play with Shweta Chari
1. What inspired the founding of Toybank?
Toybank is the flagship company of the Opentree foundation whose mission is development through play. When Shweta was 21 years old, she volunteered at a children’s home where she observed how playing with toys lit up the children' s faces and gave them joy and freedom to learn and explore. Through this experience she asked herself, what would happen if the kids grew up without the joy of being able to experience playing? This idea stuck with her and later in life she realized that play isn’t just about fun; it shapes people as they grow into adults. That idea was the initial inspiration for Toybank to form, with a belief that every child deserves the right to play. Personally, I am touched and inspired by Shweta!
2. What is your dream for Toybank now?
Shweta’s dream for the Opentree foundation is that play becomes a natural part of every child’s life as eating and sleeping is. Whether kids are from a big city or a small village, play should be in one’s school, community, and everyday life. She wants to see India to see play not as a luxury, but as a right. Shweta dreams that one day, children won’t have to fight for the right to play. I am very encouraged by this mission and plan to do my bit to help out as well.
3. What are some special memories or moments during the journey?
There are many special moments, but one that stays with her is when children in a school painted their classroom walls with playful pictures and wrote Toybank across them. The children painted on their own initiative. That was powerful. Today, Shweta’s happiest moments are when teachers themselves schedule playtime in the timetable, or when children confidently lead play sessions for their classmates. That’s when she knows the organisation is growing in the right way.
4. What are some of the biggest challenges you faced starting Toybank and now scaling it?
At the beginning, the challenge was convincing people that play is serious work. Many thought it was a distraction from “real learning”. Today, the challenge in scaling is that learning is intangible i.e. play looks different in every context, so their programs must adapt. As a non-profit, resources are always limited. But as a community they learned to build partnerships, measure and show impact, and to find people who believe in this cause as deeply as they do.
5. Can you give some examples of challenging times and how you overcame them?
There were times when donations slowed down, or schools felt too burdened to welcome play. It was discouraging. But instead of stopping, they invited people to simply watch children at play, see the confidence, empathy, and joy it sparks. Once the folks witnessed that, many became believers. As a group they kept reminding themselves: mindsets do not change overnight, but they do change with persistence and proof. This is such a great learning opportunity for me that being persistent and believing your vision is very important to building something meaningful.
6. I don’t know how a non-profit works. Can you explain this to me?
She explained to think of a non-profit like a big group project in school. The goal is not to make money, but to solve a problem. Toybank’s mission is that children don’t get enough play. They design programs, set up play centres, and train teachers to bring play into everyday classrooms. People and organisations donate toys, games, time, or money to support them. All that comes in as donations or kind goes into the children’s lives, not for profit. This is a new learning for me.
7. What qualities do you look for in your team and volunteers?
The important qualities that Shweta looks for in her team and volunteers are empathy, curiosity, and playfulness. She doesn't expect the person to know everything, but they need to care deeply and are willing to learn. The best team members are those who can actively listen, respect children’s worlds, and believe that play can truly change lives.
8. When you distribute toys, how do you build lasting relationships with kids?
They learned very quickly that it’s not about just giving toys. It’s about creating spaces where children can play regularly, safely, and joyfully. That means listening to their realities, working with their teachers, and showing up again and again. Lasting relationships are built on consistency and care, and children know when you’re truly there for them. This is very insightful for me.
9. If you could go back in time, what would you do differently?
Shweta feels she could have been braver in experimenting. In the early years, she sometimes waited too long for the “perfect” plan. Shweta told her younger self: pilot more, test more, don’t be afraid of mistakes. And she keeps reminding herself not to get disheartened when people don’t immediately understand. Change takes time.
10. What kind of topics do you discuss with your mentors?
She speaks to mentors about leadership for e.g. how to grow from being the one doing everything to building others up as leaders. Shweta asks about sustainability, about balancing scale with purpose and sometimes, learning how to keep her energy steady when the journey feels long. Their guidance helps her see the bigger picture.
11. If you had 1 superpower, what would it be and why?
She’d choose the power to shift mindsets in an instant. Imagine if every adult understood right away that play is as essential as food or shelter, every child’s life would change immediately. That’s the superpower I’d want too.
12. As a role model, what advice would you give to children who want to make the world better?
Start small. You don’t need a big plan to begin. Look around you. Is there a friend left out of a game? Invite them in. Is there something broken in your neighbourhood? Gather friends and fix it. Know why you care, hold on to it, and don’t be afraid to fail sometimes. The world changes when ordinary people take small, consistent steps. You can be that person. These lessons that she shared have deeply inspired me to think and act differently.
I would like to thank Shweta for talking to me! I was really excited to learn from her and she taught me many valuable lessons that I will act upon! It was a real honor for me to write this blog!
You can check all of the great work at Opentree Foundation here: https://toybank.org/
I would really love to hear your feedback and comments. Please reach out to me@hanikachhajer.com.
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