Two young women in Kerala are fostering creativity and environmental responsibility among children by teaching them to transform trash into toys. Avani M, 31, and Gopika Santhosh, 20, of Ponkunnam in Kottayam have been spearheading a grassroots campaign to promote sustainability by conducting hands-on workshops for children, showing them how to make toys and everyday utility items using discarded materials.
Their mission is simple but impactful: to teach the next generation that waste is not worthless. Whether it’s broken toy parts, bottle caps, used cardboard, fabric scraps, or old wires, these young women are proving that anything discarded can be given a second life—with a little imagination and guidance.
“We wanted to make sustainability fun and relatable for kids,” said Avani M, who is a product designer by profession after completing her postgraduation from Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology in Bengaluru. “Toys are something every child loves, and when they realize they can make their own from things lying around the house, it excites them and gets them thinking differently about waste,” she told “Open Digest“.
Gopika, who was a student of Avani in her training classes, decided to join Avani, inspired by her mission to spread the message of sustainability among children by conducting free training workshops for them. Both of them have been associating with Janakeeya Library at Ponkunnam for conducting the training classes at various places in the state.
Working entirely in their free time, the duo has been visiting local schools, libraries, and community centers, conducting weekend sessions packed with creativity and eco-conscious lessons. Children not only learn how to build toys—like spinning tops from old CDs, puppets from socks, or mini trucks from boxes—but also gain insights into recycling, resourcefulness, and the importance of reducing plastic waste. “We generally focus on children in the age group between four and nine. We are getting tremendous support from like-minded individuals and organizations for conducting the free training programme,” Avani added.
With their campaign gaining momentum, the two women hope to expand the project, collaborate with more schools, and inspire others to replicate the idea in different communities. “At the heart of it, we just want to show children that they have the power to change the world,” Avani said.
