Toybank's Annual Report 20-21

ANNUAL REPORT 2020-21

Our Vision

Toybank envisions a world where
all children are empowered
through Conscious Play™

Our Ethos

“It is easier to build strong children
than to repair broken men and women”
—Frederick Douglass

TABLE OF 03
04
CONTENTS
07
Letter from our Co-founder 15
Letter from our Trustee - Jiby Thomas 20
Toybank’s Covid-19 Response: 29
Harnessing the Power of Play 33
2020-21 Reach and Highlights 35
Solidarity in Adversity 39
Advocating for Play 41
Toybank in the Spotlight 42
Our Partners
Financial Overview
Letter from our Trustee - Devendra Naik
Building a Resilient Generation

Annual Report 2

Letter from our Co-Founder

Shweta Chari

“What must children be made of, to come into a world like
this one? Children must be made up of silk. They must be brought up
with serenity in their skin but bulletproof strength in their souls.”
—C JoyBell C

The past year was a whirlwind of With immense support driven by our
mental and emotional trauma, partners and collaborations, we could
insecurities, confusion, isolation, and instantly bring Play to our children.
all such dreadful things. Multiply it by And the one thing that didn’t leave
multitudes to maybe understand a our side ever was determination that
fraction of what every at-risk child despite the crisis, our kids will not
across the world has dealt with. Loss grow up disillusioned.
of lives and livelihoods are tangible
repercussions of COVID-19 but it took Our kids were the greatest source
the pandemic for everyone to wake of optimism and inspiration—with
up to the cataclysm of neglecting their marvelous adaptiveness, coping
children’s mental well-being. We knew and innate resilience despite their
it had to be battled with the most vulnerability. Once again, we were
powerful tool we have always used— speaking the only language we know
Play. and children understand best—Play!
We wanted to make every child
Truth be told, initially, we were lost resilient yet kind—silk with bulletproof
about how we could impact our strength. For that, Play must never
children when we couldn’t even meet stop. It didn’t and never will!
them at our Play2Learn Centers.
But the thought of putting a pause
on Play did not occur to us. On the
contrary, we were ready to provide it
relentlessly to protect and promote
our children’s Right to Play.

Children’s spirits
are set free in play
and imaginations
come alive !

3 Annual Report

Letter from our Trustee

Jiby Thomas

‘Digital adoption and delivery of the Toybank Play2Learn Program
was a game changer during the pandemic’

The severity of COVID-19 shocked out the best in kids with its sheer
everyone, and its longevity has combination of fun, physical and
emotionally impacted people of all mental activity, it was abruptly
ages. The pandemic proved to be snatched from them with no answers
a double-edged sword for children to when they could resume again.
especially, as it affected them in
unimaginable ways on multiple levels. Play has always been in a crisis, which
exacerbated during the pandemic.
The emotional impact was But just like Toybank—Development
disproportional due to separation through Play has believed in and
from their friends at school and harnessed the power of Play
in the neighborhood. Their innate regardless, it was no different now.
playfulness and energy was Digital adoption and delivery of the
suppressed due to confinement at Play2Learn Program was a game
home and negligible Play and physical changer.
activity. One cannot even imagine the
extent of potential loneliness as well It provided mental stimulation,
as physical and mental restrictions healthy distraction from distresses,
with school through the screens! and enabled connections—between
us and the kids, their teachers,
As we grown-ups were forced to parents and also between the
sit back and prioritize what’s of children and their peers, volunteers as
paramount importance to us, and buddies and more. Just like the game
what we care for the most, Play of ‘Chain’, everyone stood together
for children was ironically sidelined to create an environment that
instead of being prioritized. empowered kids to be resilient and
Even though Play always brings continue learning through Play.

Annual Report 4

A Play2Learn session before the pandemic, where children are
engrossed in a strategy building game ‘Dog & Bone’

5 Annual Report

Girija’s Story of Resilience

Student, 12 years old, Unnati Balbhavan, Ahmednagar District

Like children her age, 7th Std student Soon, her teachers managed to
Girija (name changed) found joy in establish contact with her family
studying and playing in her free time. and started sharing the Toybank
But with the pandemic, her family of Play2Learn Kit with games and
six were gripped with food insecurity activities.
as her daily wage worker father and
domestic help mother were rendered Being meaningfully engaged with
out of work. The hardship deprived activities provided her with purpose
Girija of her mental peace, study, and and she could take her mind off
playtime. distressing thoughts. When our
partner-teacher called to check in
Girija and her siblings were sent on her, Girija said, “I am enjoying
away to her maternal house, where Toybank’s play activities a lot. They
their basic needs were taken care of. also help me feel less tense.”
However, she found no respite from
the worrying thoughts of her parents
and her family’s future.

Girija and her sister listening to vibrations caused by air molecules
in the activity Balloon Speaker, a science experiment

Annual Report 6

Harnessing the Power of Play

While visiting school to collect ration, these two children
requested their teachers to let them play games from the
Play2Learn Center (Zilla Parishad school, Beed district)

Protecting at-risk children from among others, has kept us providing
everyday perils of poverty and its Play to them each day since 2004.
innumerable offshoots, including Our children have always harnessed
malnutrition, unsafe environments, the Power of Play that we provided to
diseases, to mental and behavioral face these with resilience. And, this is
issues and educational inequities true for all the kids everywhere.

7 Annual Report

Whether at the concentration camps our partner hospitals. They find an
playing ‘Gas Chamber’ or ‘Gestapo outlet in Play as a way of building
Agent’ to understand their realities resilience and a healthy distraction
and express trauma, or stealthily from struggles.
venturing out of the overcrowded
evacuation centers after the Great When 2020 began, we realised that
East Japan Earthquake and tsunami a type of a crisis or the context may
in 2011, children have always used change but the Power of Play to
Play as a coping and adaptation build strength in children to face any
mechanism. Closer home, Toybank’s adversity does not. As COVID raged
children survive harsh environments on, so did we to relentlessly push Play
every day or undergo treatments at forward and support our children.

Still from the movie Life is Beautiful (1997), where a Jewish
father uses humor and pretend play to shield his young son from
the horrors in a Nazi concentration camp.

Annual Report 8

COVID-19 carnage

It didn’t take the pandemic for at-risk children in India to deal with psycho-social
distress and poor mental health. But the crisis and the abject adversity ought to
have scarred them more. Here’s how COVID-19 affected more than 188 million
children in the country.

An empty school ground glooms without children’s presence
during the lockdown
9 Annual Report

50% A total of 3 lakh calls were made.
Officials answered 300 to 400 calls
increase in distress calls each day with children (even those
on Childline in a week safely quarantined) facing distress.

17% 70,000

increase in distress calls against girl more children estimated to become
child marriages in June–July 2020, child laborers in addition to the
compared to 2019. existing 10.1 million

8 in 10 children reported an 120 million
increase in negative feelings due to
the lockdown children missed out on mid-day
meals, jeopardizing their nutrition
and cognitive development

55% of children with of households had a child
disabilities played less or caregiver reporting
violence in the home.
45% of children couldn’t Violence was higher when
stay in touch with schools were closed
their friends

24 million 24% households own
smartphones
children may drop out of
school due to economic 11.5% have a computer and
fallout internet to support
online learning

(Source: Childline, Save the Children, Financial Express, UN, Census 2011)

Annual Report 10

Image source: UNICEF/UN0491303/Vishwanathan

A child learns at home during school closure

Pandemic pandemonium

…that we had to safeguard our 51,000+ children from

The world’s knee-jerk reaction to Underserved children have been
COVID-19 was to tuck the kids safely the most adversely-affected and
at home. But the isolation had massive invisible victims. The first blow for us
mental and emotional repercussions was losing contact with thousands
on their present and future. And this is of our children, who were forced to
just the tip of the iceberg. migrate as their caregivers lost their
jobs. These children were pushed
With the lockdown, approximately further into the vortex of emotional,
247 million children instantly started educational and mental health crisis
losing out on learning and social- during the critical years of their
emotional development. “Lack of development
extracurricular and outdoor activities,
altered eating and sleeping habits, We had to prevent the upcoming
and lack of peer-time have fostered tornado of turmoil to ensure that the
monotony, anguish, irritation, and progress we had made so far wasn’t
diverse neuro-psychiatric symptoms. undone.
This may soon lead to an outbreak of
a ‘second pandemic’ of mental health For this, we amped up our efforts to a
crises,” warned the Indian Academy of propensity that would bring a change
Pediatrics. in our lifetime. COVID or no COVID.

11 Annual Report

Amidst vulnerability,
Play builds self-confidence

Student, 12 years old, Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Junior Basic School,
Nanded District

Shivani (name changed) struggled progress. With every activity, her
to ask questions and clarify doubts confidence grew. The daily reminders
over WhatsApp while doing her maths by Toybank’s Program Officers to
lessons from school. This sudden shift ask doubts, questions and provide
in learning made her under-confident feedback made Shivani feel safe
to speak up. She feared she was despite being vulnerable and asking
wrong or would get a scolding. She’d for clarity.
wait for her classmates to submit
their answers, and then submit hers After four months, we saw Shivani’s
as she expected her friends to laugh proactiveness grow. She learnt that
at her. clarifying doubts is a part of her
learning process and nothing to be
On the other hand, the teacher saw afraid of. She no longer waits for her
a difference in how she interacted peers to submit their homework, but
with Toybank’s Play2Learn Kit. With instead takes the initiative to complete
its simple step-by-step instructions, her homework independently.
Shivani knew she was making

Shivani learns to differentiate shapes using colors
Annual Report 12

At our Play2Learn Centers in rural district Latur, children from
nearby neighborhoods grouped up to play in the school’s premises
keeping in mind Covid protocols

No Pause on Play

Education during the pandemic With no proximity to peers, teachers
entailed online learning and mohalla and Play, children had no avenue for
schools where government teachers social-emotional development, critical
conducted classes in open areas. thinking, curiosity, exploration and
Both proved to be inadequate as other crucial life skills. The progress
at-risk children faced mass exodus they made at our Play2Learn Centers
and a gaping digital divide. Their in—reduced aggression, hyperactive
learning losses have two aspects— tendencies and low attention span—
academic regression of the school risked being reversed. To ensure they
year and forgetting what lessons were at par with their development,
they learnt the previous year. But we adopted a mental relief approach
the most impressionable loss, was to make them school-ready and life-
their developmental regression that ready.
lays the foundation of positive future
outcomes.

13 Annual Report

Toybank’s Covid-19 Response

Relief Response Rebuild

Perplexed with To address the To build the momentum
disrupted routines and residual impact of when centers and
fear of uncertainty, the lockdown, the schools re-open,
the Digital Toybank program eased Toybank Play2Learn
Play2Learn Program at-risk children’s Program will steer back
provided children transition to the to bring children on
mental relief and new normal. track with their learning
engagement at home. and development.

Digital Support Groups Digital Play2Learn Kit

433* 742*

Support Play2Learn

Groups Sheets

After a flurry of online meetings We carefully curated the digital
and calls with our NGO partners to Toybank Play2Learn Kit with games,
understand the need of the hour, activities and puzzles after gauging
WhatsApp was strategically chosen children’s learning and social-
as the medium to deliver our digital emotional needs. Daily we distributed
Play2Learn Program. It was a cost- two Play2Learn sheets on WhatsApp
effective, accessible and user-friendly Support Groups. This provided a safe
medium to interact with the children, and stimulating learning environment
their primary caregivers and teachers. at home, wherein children
The groups were also avenues for meaningfully engaged in play activities
them to clear doubts, ask for support aligned with their academic curriculum
from one another and stay connected and holistic development for four to
with their teachers as well as Toybank five hours.
Program Officers.

*Numbers as on 31 st March 2021

Annual Report 14

Our Reach

Toybank’s Play2Learn Program brought Play, learning, and
holistic development to at-risk children daily.

(Numbers below are as on 31 st March 2021)

73 partners in Maharashtra across 12 districts
joined us in making Play accessible

51,657 9,673

children caregivers

We reach a diverse group of Teachers and parents took the roles
children from urban, rural and of playmates as mobile phones and
tribal areas of the country. homes became classrooms. Teachers
These children are from our were supported through online
Play2Learn Centers as well as new training workshops and parents,
collaborations during Covid-19. guided to include play in their daily
routine.

15 Annual Report

When it comes to Play, geography and language are
no barriers. Across India, Play made its way to remote
villages, tribal communities, and even one of the toughest
mountainous regions.

500+ 5 COVID

Volunteers Collaborations

Our strong support system of With resources easily obtainable locally,
volunteers helped us virtually with the Toybank Play2Learn Kit was adapted
various assignments like designing to different contexts and backgrounds.
and translation of the Play2Learn Children from tribal communities and
Kit into 5 languages, social media remote areas in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil
engagement, video editing and Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Ladakh, and
graphic design. Manipur learned through play.

Annual Report 16

2020-21 Highlights

Despite a year of crisis, Toybankers came together stronger than
ever. Solidarity with our children, partners and supporters, made us
achieve many good things, robustly deliver our program through the
year and build a resilient generation.

Toybank Play2Learn Kit
launched

Through extensive research and content
development, the Play2Learn Kit was
designed to equip children with integral
life skills. Play-based activities were
aligned with NCERT, the Diksha learning
app and the principles of the National
Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020).
The activities were translated into 5
languages.

Play at hospitals

As part of our Play2Smile Program,
we provided 1,095 games to hospitals

in Mumbai and Pune.

17 Annual Report

Distributing games to
children’ homes

As schools and Play2Learn
Centers temporarily shut
down, we coordinated with
partners to distribute games
at the centers to children to
take home.

The Buddy Program

Toybank volunteers turned
Big Buddies to provide Small
Buddies a circle of friendship,
learning and growth. Weekly
Buddy Sessions included
online Play2Learn Sessions,
music, art and craft and so
on. These sessions initiated
the social interactions our
children lacked due to Covid.

Teacher Training Workshops

A series of virtual workshops trained 439 partner-teachers to incorporate
play-based learning through the Toybank Play2Learn Kit into their
academic lessons and virtual learning plans.

Annual Report 18

19 Annual Report

Solidarity

in adversity

Annual Report 20

Our Team learned for Play, too

With 16 years of on-ground experience, working remotely was
untested waters for us. Steadily, arm in arm, we upskilled in various
areas and took a deep dive to effectively deliver our Play2Learn
program digitally.

Webinars and capacity building Monthly Town Halls
Behind the scenes, we enhanced Separated across states but united
our digital skills for remote working to push Play forward, Team Toybank
and  engagement with kids. We also hopped on a call at the end of every
partook in webinars to understand the month to connect, share highlights
challenges of the pandemic on mental and of course play a fun game
health and children’s development. together.

Project planning workshop Gamified Upskilling Workshops
A week-long capacity building session Learning through Play is for everyone;
enabled us to prioritize projects and age no bar. Thus, gamified upskilling
use relevant tools and techniques to workshops for team building, Time
get effective outputs and outcomes Machine and Fastest Fingers First
to amp up our program. by our supporter Nomobo taught us
about prioritizing, being mindful about
real goals, team spirit and thinking out
of the box.

Team showing their favorite game or toy on World Play Day
21 Annual Report

Program Officer “Covid destroyed my happy
conducting a play session routine—the solitude of working in
before the pandemic. office, the joyous train commutes and
the energy of being around teammates.
What kept me motivated to work hard and
to upskill in digital tools for remote working
was how our team stayed connected
online. The small things like keeping videos
on during team meetings helped me not

feel so isolated,”

—Pooja Saiya, Team Toybank

Annual Report 22

Stakeholder solidarity in
adversity

Our children, their parents, teachers and partners—all hands on deck,
sailed through many setbacks for Play

Maya playing with her Pinwheel Leading their Play

While Maya’s (name changed)
classmates shared colorful
images of the Newton’s Disc on
the Support Groups, she shared
a blank disc as she did not have
crayons. Her classmate Sahil, who
lives nearby, noticed this and rode
his bicycle to her house to lend
his colors. Maya then shared her
multihued disc.

Children shared resources and
smartphones, so that those with
lack of learning resources weren’t
left behind. Even when parents took
kids to schools to collect ration,
children requested teachers to give
them games from the Play2Learn
Centers to engage with.

A teacher and her students working on a playsheet together
23 Annual Report

Parents supported their children New collaborators
expanded our reach
“ As a parent, it’s tough to juggle
work and home. It’s even tougher for SAVE, Ladakh
a teacher to manage a whole class. In Changthang, children gathered
My role and involvement to ensure and engaged with print outs of the
that my child learns well was vital, Play2Learn activities.
but also it was key to help teachers.
I support my son Iqbal in solving Sunbird Trust, Manipur
the Playsheets so that in school, he In the remote villages of Aben
can independently pick up lessons and Singngat our Play2Learn
reducing that strain on his teacher,” Kit was used to bring back joy
said Firoz Shaikh, parent from Solapur and flexibility in learning as the
district. students and teachers weren’t
able to adopt virtual learning.
Our Play2Learn Program
partners went over and beyond Mahan Trust, Maharashtra
In the tribal region of Melghat,
Impassioned about providing Play, our Village Health Workers shared
partners ensured we Play2Learn Sheets through their
reached out to as many of our phones and meaningfully engaged
children as possible. Our partner the children in activities they had
Manavlok from Beed, Maharashtra, never seen before.
said, “It is important for us to
understand that Play is not a pastime. Oasis India, Tamil Nadu &
It helps children reduce stress, learn Andhra Pradesh
new things, aids their physical and Aligning with the NGO’s ethos
mental development, and builds of inclusive learning and
friendships.” comprehensive empowerment,
the Play2Learn Kit provided
For those children who didn’t have holistic learning to children for
smartphones, the teachers from wholesomeness of life.
Manavlok distributed games from
Toybank Play2Learn Centers to Parivaar Education Society,
children’s homes. Five children in each Madhya Pradesh
neighbourhood would get games to The Play2Learn sheets in MP
meet in a group and safely play under supported children who were
a caregiver’s supervision. gripped with deprivation,
malnourishment and poor
learning levels.

Annual Report 24

A child learns about tenses A parent helps build her child’s
by sorting sentences into sorting skills and fine motor skills
different bowls, Parivaar as they sort a mixed bowl of
Education Society pulses, Mahan Trust

Children play Sock Toss using rolled up socks and bins with their
teachers, Oasis India

25 Annual Report

Viva la volunteers!

Our volunteers marched on to fuel the organisation’s work during the
pandemic. We derived immense strength from them to translate and
design the digital Play2Learn Kit, making it accessible across India.
Their creativity in various forms such as video editing, graphic design
and creative writing amplified our cause across social media. Here’s
how we engaged with our strongest support system in 2020:

Sensitizations and inductions in hobbies together and online
Play2Learn sessions. 91 buddies
We conducted virtual sensitization connected weekly with a total of 70
workshops and inductions for over sessions conducted.
600 individuals to take them up to
speed with our work and ways they Creativity Action Service (CAS)
can volunteer with us virtually. Program

Toybank Buddy Program This year, as part of the CAS program,
80 student volunteers virtually
Toybank’s Buddy Program provided engaged with children from our
children with a circle of friendship, Play2Learn Centers by conducting
learning and growth to help them buddy sessions of art and craft,
cope with isolation and other social storytelling, music, etc. They also
perils of the pandemic. Our volunteers advocated for play through creative
as Big Buddies conducted sessions writing where blogs and articles were
including sharing, expressing, engaging published.

A volunteer uses a puppet to tell a story at a session for the Buddy Program

Annual Report 26

“Even in the pandemic,
I had this great opportunity to
learn and grow while conducting
play sessions. This one year
experience taught me how to
collaborate, organize, take risks and
reflect on the impact of play and its

global significance,”
—Rahil Shah, Student volunteer

A volunteer conducts a Play2Learn
session pre-pandemic

27 Annual Report

Pravin and his parents learn
balanced living

Student, 11 years old, Z.P.P.S Manusmarwadi,
Latur District

Pravin (name changed) grew restless, Understanding the roadblock,
reserved, had no playtime and no Toybank’s Program Officer and
friends to talk to in the lockdown. Prabhutwa set up a meeting with
His parents set high standards for his Pravin’s parents, where they discussed
academic performance, affecting their the value of a healthy balance
familial bond. When Toybank mapped between academics and other
him with a Big Buddy for the Toybank activities for children and also how
Buddy Program, he had a safe space isolation and lack of communication
to open up. adversely affects a child.

Within three months, his Big Buddy His parents acknowledged the impact
Prabhutwa saw a sea of change in of their expectations on Pravin’s
him as he proactively opened up. behavior and academics. Henceforth,
She also engaged him in problem they decided to work with him to live
solving activities which boosted his a more balanced life.
confidence.

Pravin proudly told his buddy, “When
I grow up, I want to be an IT Engineer.
Science is my favourite subject. I
love to solve and learn from science
playsheets.” He also shared about his
parents’ high academic expectations
of him, and how they packed his
day with online classes and private
tuitions.

This left him with little time to rest or Pravin builds his vocabulary while
de-stress. To bring him some respite, playing Wordsearch
Prabhutwa suggested educational
short films, fun-to-learn science
experiment videos and science-
based Play2Learn Sheets, but he was
unable to engage with these due to
his parents putting pressure on his
academic performance.

Annual Report 28

Advocating for Play

2020 was the year Play finally took center stage. Be it virtual or in
person, Play made its way into the core part of our lives.

2020 was crucial for us to build the A staggering number of researchers
stepping stones for Play advocacy. and educators have, for years,
With the National Education Policy highlighted the importance of Play.
2020 robustly emphasizing the
immediate focus on early childhood 2020 was the year Play finally took
development and for Play to be a center stage. Be it virtual or in person,
core part of holistic development, Play became a core part of our lives,
many individuals in the fold of our where we took respite in it to get
Toybank family went far and wide through the crisis. Even the ways
to not only ensure Play reached the our partners and children innovated
remotest of places, but also that learning through play, showed us that
more people know about how much Play is here to stay and we need to
it matters. advocate for it vociferously.

29 Annual Report

“ Playing is a must. A life-saver in times of crisis. The pressure of
isolation worsened as we were alienated from our friends, families as
well as colleagues. To laugh, to interact, to pull someone’s leg, even if
done behind screens, provided a breather during these grim times,”
— Arzan Khambatta.

Toybank’s Play Ambassador “ I come to my studio every
In October 2020, Toybank welcomed day and play—with materials,
its first ever Play Ambassador, Arzan ideas and situations. My
Khambatta, a stellar sculptor-artist, friends ask me if I work even
child by nature and an ardent believer on Sundays. No! I play all week
in Play. A dedicated Toybanker and even more on Sundays. If
for years, he has taken on various I had a choice for children to
roles like paneling discussions and engage in Play or academics,
supervising our art installations at I would go for play. Because
various Kala Ghoda Art Festivals. This one can learn from Play, but
year, he conducted virtual Doodling not the other way around,”
for Mindfulness workshops for our
children, paneled our webinar and — Arzan Khambatta.
promoted our work on social media.

Actively advocating for play
We can all advocate for Play, in our
own unique ways, just like Arzan
Khambatta and many Toybankers
have been doing. Being an advocate
for play can involve simple things
like including play in your individual
lives to more complex initiatives like
bringing about policy level changes.

Just like play dough, here are the
many forms your advocacy can take:

• Raising community awareness
about the Right to Play

• Providing a play space
• Fostering a culture of play at home

or work spaces
• Know more about the policies and

organizations in your city working
towards Right To Play

Annual Report 30

Playing Bridge — Promoting the
cause virtually

Prioritizing Play needs a paradigm shift in people’s mindsets. Only
when integrated well into society will it be considered children’s
basic right and not a pastime. Through webinars, workshops and
participation in global and national forums, we demonstrated the
resilient and empathetic generation that Play can build.

Toybank Bridge Series Webinars

The widening gaps in inequities, well-being and learning for at-risk children needs
to be spoken about vociferously. To start the conversations towards bridging
those gaps, we launched the Toybank Bridge Series Webinars.
Webinar 1 — Gen T: The Generation that Thrives—In Conversation with the
Children of the Future brought together children from our Play2Learn Centers,
Shagun Rai and Prince Yadav and student volunteers Rehan Chagla and Khushi
Vora to share what it means to be a child and thrive during COVID-19, and their
expectations from the future. The webinar was moderated by drama teacher,
acting coach and actor, Shaun Williams.
Webinar 2 — Reimagining Child-friendly Spaces, also moderated by Shaun
Williams had Ratan J Batliboi, architect-artist-sculptor Arzan Khambatta and
Toybank’s Co-Founder & CEO Shweta Chari talk about children’s needs and
voices, Right to Play and why children need to be included while creating child-
friendly spaces.

31 Annual Report

IPA Special Awards Series

Recognized among 23 global
organizations by the International
Play Association (IPA) for upholding
the Right To Play during COVID-19, we
presented our Play2Learn Program
at the webinar series on Empowering
Play in the Digital Age alongside
organizations from Indonesia, Portugal
and the UK.

Luma World’s Podcast—
The Power of Play

Toybank’s Co-Founder & CEO, Shweta
Chari, and the Founder of Studio.
Clock.Works, Shradha Jain were

panelists on Luma World’s Podcast
SPIEL Digital where they discussed

the impact of Play on at-risk kids,
sustainability in the toy industry and

policy-level changes required to
protect the Right To Play.

The India Toy Fair 2021

The homegrown video Value of Play
showcased the significance of Play
and our work at the fair with 1,000+
exhibitors participating.

Power of Play Workshops

Power of Play workshops,
sensitizations and live Play2Learn
sessions with almost 600 corporate
employees involved participation in
interactive games to learn life skills
like problem solving and collaboration,
encouraging volunteerism and taking
a step towards Mainstreaming Play.

Annual Report 32

Toybank in the Spotlight

Our efforts to uphold and promote children’s Right to Play during the
pandemic were recognized across national forums and on social media

Advertised in Bombay Stock Exchange’s
magazine Forum Views (April 2020)
33 Annual Report

New
collaborator,
Oasis India,
shared a Story
of Resilience
and how
Toybank’s
Play2Learn Kit
supported their
children during
the pandemic.

(November 2020)

Little Black Book featured Published on Nexus of Good’s
Toybank’s Digital Play2Learn Stories of Goodness (July 2020)
Kit as a resource for happier,
healthier childhoods (May 2020)

Morgan Stanley highlighted our work Toybank featured in United Way
in Malvani, Mumbai (May 2020) Mumbai’s Stories of Hope
(February 2021)

Annual Report 34

Our Play2Learn Partners

Schools
̵̵ A.D. Pawar Vidyalaya
̵̵ Abhinav Dhyan Mandir School (English)
̵̵ Abhinav Dhyan Mandir School (Marathi)
̵̵ Alpha School
̵̵ Bhausaheb Vidyalaya
̵̵ Bhima Nagar School
̵̵ COSMOS School
̵̵ Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar High School
̵̵ Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Prathmik Vidyalaya
̵̵ Gandhi Bal Mandir School
̵̵ Gilder Lane Municipal Public School
̵̵ Government of Maharashtra, Latur
̵̵ Government of Maharashtra, Osmanabad
̵̵ Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil Vidyasankul
̵̵ Kavlemath Banganga Marathi School
̵̵ M.H Chougule School
̵̵ Maharashtra Housing Board Schools, Malwani
̵̵ Maharashtra Vidyalaya (Marathi)
̵̵ Maooli Educational Foundations Ramkrishna School
̵̵ Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad Education Trust
̵̵ Mohili Village Marathi BMC School
̵̵ Nalanda High School
̵̵ Poisar School (Hindi Medium) School No. 1
̵̵ Poisar School (Hindi Medium) School No. 3
̵̵ Pragati School
̵̵ Pragati School (Special Children)
̵̵ Priyadarshini Vidyamandir School
̵̵ R.H. Kate English School
̵̵ Samajratna Shivaji Rao (Bapu) Shendge Vidyalaya
̵̵ Sanjay Nagar BMC Marathi School
̵̵ Sanjay Nagar BMC Urdu School No. 1
̵̵ Sanjay Nagar BMC Urdu School No. 2
̵̵ Sheth G.K. Prathamik Shala
̵̵ Shree Geeta Vidhyalaya
̵̵ Sodawala Lane Municipal M.R School
̵̵ Subhedar Ramji Ambedkar Vidyalaya
̵̵ Tardeo Municipal School
̵̵ Umeedbhai Patel School
̵̵ Vidya Vikas School
̵̵ Vivek Vidyalaya
̵̵ Yusuf Meherally Memorial Education Society
̵̵ Zilla Parishad Schools in Chincholi Kati & Akolekati

35 Annual Report

NGOs
̵̵ Ashadeep Association
̵̵ Ashray Akruti Foundation
̵̵ Bal Jeevan Trust
̵̵ Community Outreach Program (CORP) - Rural
̵̵ Community Outreach Program (CORP) - Urban
̵̵ Family Service Center
̵̵ Gharkul Trust
̵̵ Lamp Post (SEED Foundation)
̵̵ Logic Centre & Community Welfare Association
̵̵ Maharogi Sewa Samiti
̵̵ Manavlok
̵̵ MSWC Asha Sadan
̵̵ Mumbai Smiles in collaboration with SAPREM
̵̵ National Association for The Blind India
̵̵ Nerur Samruddhi Pratishtan
̵̵ Prerana
̵̵ Rashtiya Seva Sameeti
̵̵ Sadguru Education Society - Anandi Special School
̵̵ Sahasee Embers
̵̵ Sanskriti Samvardhan Mandal
̵̵ Saprems Bring A Smile M.R School
̵̵ Snehalaya
̵̵ Support the Handicapped’s Rehabilitation Effort (SHARE)
̵̵ Young Men Christian Association (YMCA)
̵̵ Young Women Christian Association (YWCA)
̵̵ Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action (YUVA)

Shelter & Children’s Homes

̵̵ Snehasadan
̵̵ The Children’s Aid Society

Our Play2Smile Partners

̵̵ Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children
̵̵ Narayan Health SRCC Children’s Hospital
̵̵ Romila Palliative Care

Annual Report 36

PartneOrsur Partners

37 Annual Report

Our Board Shweta Chari
Co-founder & CEO of The Opentree
Trustees Foundation
Devendra Naik
Jyoti Devjani Founder of NoMoBo
Founder, Keola Health & Wellness
Ketan Sanghvi
Jiby Thomas Founder & CEO,
Founder Web Butter Jam, Sanginfo
Digital Marketing Ratan Batliboi
Owner—Ratan J. Batliboi - Consultants
MV Subramanian Pvt Ltd. & Chairman of CRY—Child
Ex-CEO of Axis Bank Foundation, Rights & You
Retired Banker Vivek Jhangiani
Executive Director—Pleasantime
Advisors Products

Narender Nagpal
Co-Founder & Partner of
Amansa Capital

Sriram R
Entrepreneur, Consultant, Mentor,
Co-founder, Crossword &
Next Practice Retail

Seema Sharma
Founder—Smile Impressions Group,
Dentabyte, and Child Action

Annual Report 38

Financial Overview

SCHEDULE VIII [ Vide Rule 17 (1) ] Name of the Public Trust : The Opentree Foundation
The Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950. Registration No. E - 26105 (MUM)

Balance Sheet as at 31.03.2021

FUNDS & LIABILITIES AMOUNT AMOUNT PROPERTY AND ASSETS AMOUNT AMOUNT

Trust Funds or Corpus :- Immovable Properties:- (at cost) -

Balance as per last Balance Sheet 54,27,489.20

Add : During the year 29,41,191.21 83,68,680.41 Invesments :-

Fixed Deposits 3,46,82,981.00



Other Earmarked Funds :- Furniture & Fixtures :-

(Created under the provision Balance as per last Balance Sheet 17,57,802.00

of the trust deed or scheme Additions during the year

or out of the Income) -

Sinking Fund - 17,57,802.00

Reserve Fund - Less: Depreciation for the year 1,75,780.00 15,82,022.00

Any other Fund -

For Assets Fund created out

of Grant / Donations 3,61,239.65 3,61,239.65 Trade Mark

Balance as per last Balance Sheet 29,507.00

Additions during the year -

Loans (Secured or Unsecured) :- 29,507.00

From Trustees - Less: Depreciation for the year 7,377.00 22,130.00

From Other - -

Computers

Liabilities :- Balance as per last Balance Sheet 2,97,848.95

For Advances - Additions during the year 3,68,499.10

For Rent and Other Deposits - 6,66,348.05

For Sundry Creditors 5,82,255.12 Less: Depreciation for the year 2,18,866.00 4,47,482.05

For Charity Commissioner Dues 3,99,818.00 9,82,073.12

Plant & Machinery

Balance as per last Balance Sheet 2,85,294.00

Additions during the year 16,437.55

Provision :- 3,01,731.55

Provision For Expenses - Less: Depreciation for the year 44,028.00 2,57,703.55

Audit Fees Payable - - Cash and Bank Balances :-

Income and Expenditure Account :- a) Cash in Hand 5,866.35

Bal. as per last Balance Sheet 3,41,72,677.41 b) YES bank 264.00

Add : Trf from Fund - c) Kotak 5,73,817.34

Add : Surplus - d) ICICI 21,13,083.35

Less : Deficit (As per I & E A/c) 21,82,321.36 3,19,90,356.05 e) Wallets 1,399.00

f) Cheques in Hand - 26,94,430.04



Loans, Advances & Deposits

Advance to Employees 26,219.00

Accrued Interest on FD 2,49,562.83

Donation Receivable 25,953.00

TDS 5,47,682.76

Deposit 5,00,000.00 13,49,417.59



Income Tax deposited towards 6,66,183.00

Appeal filed

Prepaid Expenses -

Total 4,17,02,349.23 Total 4,17,02,349.23

For The Opentree Foundation For M/s KINJAL H SHAH & CO
Chartered Accountants
(Firm Reg. No. 117874W)

39 Annual Report

SCHEDULE VIII [ Vide Rule 17 (1) ] Name of the Public Trust : The Opentree Foundation
The Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950. Registration No. E - 26105 (MUM)

Income and Expenditure account for the period
01/04/2020 to 31/03/2021

EXPENDITURE AMOUNT AMOUNT INCOME AMOUNT AMOUNT

To Expenditure in respect of
properties :-

Rates,Taxes,Cesses -

Repairs and maintenance -

Salaries - By Interest -

Insurance - On Bank 97,117.00

Depreciation On Fixed Deposits 23,98,110.91

Other Expenses - On IT Refund - 24,95,227.91



To Establishment Expenses 25,01,406.32 By Donations in cash or kind 1,13,31,524.78

To Remuneration to Trustees -

To Remuneration - By Other income 253.00

To Legal Expenses -

To Rent - By Transfer from Reserve -

To Contribution and Fees -

To Audit Fees 59,000.00 By Deficit carried over to
Balance Sheet 21,82,321.36



To Provision for Income Tax
Return Fees

To Miscellaneous Expenses 11,912.98

To Depreciation 2,93,586.00

To Amount trf. to Reserve or s
pecific funds.



To Expenditure on object
of the Trust :-

a. Religious -

b. Educational 1,31,43,421.75

c. Medical Relief -

d. Relief of poverty -

e. Other Charitable objects - 1,31,43,421.75

-

TOTAL 1,60,09,327.05 TOTAL 1,60,09,327.05

For The Opentree Foundation For M/s KINJAL H SHAH & CO
Chartered Accountants
(Firm Reg. No. 117874W)

Annual Report 40

Closing letter from our Trustee

Devendra Naik

‘Tough times make lasting memories and transformational
experiences, as Play becomes the beacon to show the way for Right
to Play for children’

What kind of memories should More importantly, can you appreciate
children have when they think the worldview they will have when
of COVID-19 times and what they see teachers, partners and
experiences should they take with volunteers coming together to make
them as they grow up and face other this happen? It will be ‘Solidarity in
challenges? Adversity’ that children can touch,
feel and experience. This has always
Can we show them that we can been at the core of our Play2Learn
come together to overcome difficult Program that didn’t change even
situations? These questions kept during COVID.
Toybank on track this year as we
delivered Play to all children. Play As we move ahead into the new
not only has the power to keep them Financial Year in uncertain times,
actively and positively engaged but there will be newer challenges but
also makes way for extraordinary also newer milestones. And our
learning and resilience. beacon will continue to show the
way—Right to Play for all children!
Imagine the memories a child will
have because they played and
enjoyed even amidst the forced
isolation. Or visualise their learning as
they tried, failed but kept trying at a
game to finally achieve a win.

41 Annual Report

Together, let’s build a resilient
generation

If we take a step together, we can cover a mile swiftly. Toybank
has achieved milestones only thanks to the steady backing of our
volunteers and partners.
Here’s how you can build a resilient generation through Play with us:

• Volunteer with us
• Share our work and advocate for Play
• Join our team
• Make a contribution
• Follow and engage with us on social media

*Contributions to be made to The Opentree Foundation registered under the Maharashtra Public
Trusts Act 1956. (Registration number: E-26105)

Annual Report 42

308, Jagruti Industrial Premises, @ToybankIndia
Mogul Lane, Opposite Polycab, @toybank
Mahim (W), Mumbai - 400016 @toybank_india
Toybank India
[email protected] | +91 80808 68235
www.toybank.org

Toybank is registered as The Opentree Foundation