interesting article about the Dream that is KEC Green Games

1. Spotlight.Femina file:///Users/manisha/Desktop/good-green-fun.html
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Featured: Good, green fun!
Mar 26, 2012 - 06:18 PM
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Manisha and Vaishali Gadekar of KEC Green Games who make traditional games for
children ensure that every toy and game they conceptualise and design has a green soul.
They talk to Neha Mathrani about the inspiration behind their eco-friendly toys range and
their obsession with introducing the younger generation to traditional games like
hopscotch, gilli danda and lagori.
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sustainable wood or cloth toys made with cloth scraps, they are all meant to
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save the environment and get the children off that couch. Elaborating on the
philosophies behind their green toys and games line, Mumbai based
Manisha and Vaishali Gadekar explain why they favour going green. "Green
has become synonymous with all things ecological and planet friendly. We
go ahead and make all our toys and games 'green' by not using any plastics,
synthetics or any material that is harmful. Even the wood we use is either
friendly MDF or sustainable wood. Inks used for a lot of products are soy
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2. Spotlight.Femina file:///Users/manisha/Desktop/good-green-fun.html
Vision
based, thereby rendering the paper less harmful when it is deinked for
recycling."
The people behind the
ideas
With a background as social
communication teachers the two ladies describe themselves as, "Educationists who
enjoy working with kids and borrow most of our spirit, joie de vivre and outlook
towards life from them. Looking at things with wonderment and learning from each
thing in life keeps us going." Now that's a mantra to follow!
Steeped in
tradition
Their line of toys and
games is designed with
an underlying thought
of reviving traditional
handicrafts and
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"Traditional games need to regain their rightful place in society.
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toys. To bring back the element of correct play in the world today, we
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decided to begin this initiative which soon grew into an enterprise
that has amazed even us," maintain Manisha and Vaishali. BEMORE: “I was sold to brothels twice”
of
hope
"Getting people to understand our ethos is our motto so we can
take our movement forward into their homes. We do not aspire to
be direct competitors to today's gaming world of gizmos and
plastic, but would rather like the committed, eco-sensible citizen to
choose and move with our vision," say Manisha and Vaishali. For
them, it is about trying to persuade people to make the right
choice for their children and support both the dying tradition of
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3. Spotlight.Femina file:///Users/manisha/Desktop/good-green-fun.html
Indian games and the craftsmen that make them.
The real
rewards
Talk about the
reaction to their
initiative and
Manisha exclaims
with pride, "It has
been fantastic. We have a strong base of loyalists and fans on our Facebook page
who offer us encouragement and feedback. A major push comes from the Kala
Ghoda festival where we've been exhibiting for the last 3 years."
Reasonably priced, exquisitely crafted and handmade by rural artisans, KEC Green
Games is a philosophy that is worthy buying into. Choose from their many gems
such as jigsaws with rustic artwork, marbles, beautifully painted jump ropes, toys
made of cloth scraps, wooden toys and board games, string games and the like.
Buy online at www.shopo.in or contact Manisha and Vaishali at +91-9820488736 for
more information.
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