I met Mr. Desai during the festival month of December in Mumbai. Christmas Celebrations were at its peak.

I got a pull out from one of the newspapers that asked people to donate toys. I noticed the 3 mobile phone numbers of those 3 young friends who collected toys. Probably, another foundation being laid for a similar kind.

Oh, yes one of them must have been the Santaclaus distributing these toys to less deprived children at their home. Surely a wonderful way to celebrate CHRISTMAS !!!

CHILDREN TOY FOUNDATION


Have you ever thought of the various things children learn after they are born ? To talk, sit up, walk, run, learn what things are and how they work, learn about people and the world are just a few to mention. Toys help them learn the basics of a very diverse range of topics.

The kind of games we play with them influences their line of thought and interest- be it science or arts. Most of us spend quite a fortune to get the best of toys for our kids at home. However, there was one person who thought differently- he toyed with the idea of giving toys to the angels belonging to the houses of the under privileged.

Mr.Devendra S.Desai, founded the Children Toy Foundation, way back in 1982 with the motto of “No child should be deprived of toys-the childhood pleasure. I met him in his small office that was packed with toys. It was very surprising to see this Senior Citizen doing multiple tasks at the same time. One end he was finding to which school his toy truck went and on the other end he pulled a game out for me and said "Come on lets play..."



Children Toy Foundation educates children beyond reading and writing. They aim to help them acquire practical skills and develop positive attitude. They ensure that children confidently interact with the environment. It was very interesting to see their mobile play van visiting the construction sites, slums, schools, hospitals and orphanages to help children play and learn. They have play centers in 2 municipal schools under the supervision of trained staff. This enables 1500 children enjoy about 500 toys and games.


They appeal to every one of us to set up a model toy library in each state and union territory. They deserve a salute from us and they are honoured with, The Limca award for highest number of libraries in India and the International award for the concept of on-the-spot game contest

Mr Desai can be reached at Children Toy Foundation, Ali Building, 72, SB Road, Mumbai-400023 ph : 022-2664831, 3856638, ctf.vishwa.com


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Food for Thought...

It's good to have money and the things money can buy,
but it's good, too, to check up once in a while and make
sure you haven't lost the things that money can't buy.
                                                    - George Horace Lorimer