[ti:At Venezuela's Hospital for Soft Toys, Old Toys Find New Life]
[al:As It Is]
[ar:VOA]
[dt:2024-12-23]
[by:www.voase.cn]
[00:00.00]One by one, volunteers rescue and repair toys that show the marks of use. 
[00:09.98]They sew clothing and brush fur and hair, add filling and dress the toys. 
[00:17.32]The workers are fixing them to again be given to children.
[00:22.50]This is the work of the Hospital for Soft Toys, a project in Venezuela's capital, Caracas.
[00:30.72]The effort began with a mother's question: What do you do with all the toys once children outgrow them?
[00:38.91]About 60 volunteers now meet at least twice a week.
[00:43.83]They work on Barbie dolls, toy bears and baby dolls that children have left behind.
[00:51.31]The group estimates it has recycled about 70,000 toys in the past seven years.
[00:59.59]Its volunteers work faster around the Christmas holiday. 
[01:03.94]Mirady Acosta is a 63-year-old architect who represents the Hospital for Soft Toys. 
[01:13.05]She said the idea came from a teacher named Lilian Gluck.
[01:17.97]In 2017, Gluck was looking for something to do with her children's toys as they grew older.
[01:26.08]She did not want to throw them out or let them fall apart.
[01:31.01]She decided to wash them, fix them up and donate them to children staying in the University Hospital of Caracas.
[01:40.02]The effort was popular. So, a few months later, she opened the Hospital for Soft Toys at her home. 
[01:49.76]It is a nonprofit foundation that also collects and repairs other toys and educational games. 
[01:57.43]The foundation receives donations from other countries that can include school supplies, diapers, shoes, food and candy.
[02:08.82]All have been welcomed in a country that has seen years of economic crisis and renewed political unrest after July's election.
[02:20.48]Silvia Heiber has volunteered for almost three years. 
[02:25.49]She is 72 years old. She said that smoothing a soft toy's fur or fixing a doll's hair for another child to care for is also helpful for the volunteers.
[02:40.15]"By doing this, all of us who come here are in therapy, a therapy of support for one another," Heiber said.
[02:49.73]Mirna Morales is a 76-year-old teacher and volunteer.
[02:55.19]She called it "one of the best experiences I've ever had."
[02:58.96]María Poleo, who is 84 years old, said the work is not difficult because all the volunteers know how to make or repair clothing.
[03:10.40]On some days, it seems there are not enough toys to repair. 
[03:15.07]But then someone arrives at the door with more boxes and bags full of toys.
[03:21.53]The toys are delivered to hospitals and schools in poor areas, but also to homes for older people - anyone "who needs a little bit of affection," Heiber said.
[03:33.74]Each restored doll comes with a message advising its new owner to recycle it when they no longer want it.
[03:42.94]"Hello, I am your new friend," it says.
[03:46.88]"I am a doll with experience because I played with another girl. Love me and take care of me and I will do the same with you. When you grow up, give me to another girl who will love me and play with me like you."
[04:04.52]I'm Jill Robbins.