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Artist Pallavi Jain is upcycling soft toys in a bid to raise funds for Sneha’s recreation centre for children with special needs.
Upcycling, also known as creative reuse, is the process of providing old, useless or unwanted items a second chance at life and last month the 47-year-old homemaker and poetry blogger started doing that in support of a cause close to her heart.
Combining her love for art and gardening, Pallavi is turning old toys that are collecting dust in cupboards into colourful garden decorations.
“I always find ways to recycle old things lying around at home and I love trying different kinds of arts and crafts,” said the former chemistry teacher who taught at school and at an undergraduate college for years. “I get inspired watching different YouTube videos and some time back I came across a video in which a soft toy was upcycled using cement into a garden decoration.
“I tried it with my son Arihant’s old toys, which he outgrew now that he is in Grade 11, and it turned out pretty nicely.
“So I thought, why not repurpose other children’s toys as well. During the pandemic, everyone was talking about learning a new skill mostly for their own betterment. But I always wanted to do something for society with the skills I was learning.”
Pallavi put out a call on her Instagram account, @littlefriendsbh, asking people to donate unwanted toys to give ‘a chance for smaller kids to contribute towards a bigger cause’.
“I believe there is no greater joy than the joy of giving,” she added.
Since then, Pallavi has been plugging away from her home in Saar, turning teddies, elephants and other cuddly toys into garden ornaments. One friend donated a dozen to kick start her campaign for a cause.
She has completed seven and sold three with the upcycled toys starting from BD3. All profits from her pretty pieces will be donated to Sneha which is run by the Indian Ladies Association. She aims to carry on her upcycling endeavours in support of Sneha until the end of the year.
Sneha, which started in 1987, is aimed at providing a safe haven for children with special needs to acquire skills in functional literacy, self-help as well as in arts and crafts.
She said: “I chose Sneha because toys are considered children’s companions, so funds collected should also go for the welfare of children. I am looking for old, soft toys that are still in good condition.”
It made sense that she would generate garden decorations as Pallavi is an avid gardener who likes to grow vegetables during the cooler months.
When she isn’t busy creating oil and acrylic paintings or casting leaves, she can be found offering art classes to children and adults, writing poetry in Hindi and English as well as blogging about the benefits of home remedies.
People interested in donating toys or buying transformed pieces can contact her via her Instagram @littlefriendsbh or WhatsApp 35971465.
