In Togo, I often saw children fashioning toys from discarded materials due to limited access to store-bought playthings. Resourcefulness, and maybe some boredom, drives them to repurpose items like plastic bottles, cardboard, and old tires, transforming them into imaginative creations. I think that through this process, children can learn valuable lessons in problem-solving and innovation while working with other kids to make the best/fastest/most stable designs.

Beyond mere amusement, making toys from scrap serves as a catalyst for learning and social development. Children engage in collaborative play, honing essential skills such as critical thinking and cooperation. By repurposing materials and embracing creativity, they demonstrated to me time and time again how easy it was to turn everyday objects into sources of joy and inspiration.