For her 8th birthday party, Aaryahi decided to pick the theme 'Save the Planet' with a particular focus on clean and green. A special note on her invitation read, 'instead of plastic toys, please grow a plant to save the planet' 

If you didn’t know, Bhavna is currently working on her Masters in Impact Entrepreneurship. But as her friends, we've been hearing about her ideas of creating a sustainable and cyclical economy for many years now. As has Aaryahi, what with Bhavna working and running her sustainable venture Scift from home. As usual, our whatsapp group began buzzing with pictures and messages telling us all about it. I loved the theme, the thoughtful planning, and the social impact that this party would have, so much, that I asked if I could write about it.

 

 
Aaryahi's first planet-friendly decision was to have the party at home, to serve a simple home-made South-Indian meal and some of her favourite snacks and drinks like popcorn, chips and home-made lemonade. She conceptualized and drew out her cake, and it really does convey all her hopes for a cleaner and greener future if we all do our parts. I could see this idea held to heart in all the little details I would hear about thereafter. Like when she chose to reuse decorations from parties before rather than buying new ones. And opting to search online and print out party games and quizzes that would get her friends excited and thinking about their environment. Bhavna also made sure to supplement home crockery and cutlery with biodegradable areca nut ones when needed. She fashioned a piñata out of an old carton and together they decided to fill it with a mix of sweets and stationery rather than plastic fidget toys which usually get binned soon after.

 

 

As part of her Masters, Bhavna has been researching how to tackle the issue of waste fabric ending in landfills. So she pitched the idea of using fabric scraps to make decorations to her local tailor. And so from fabric scraps, a colourful bunting was fashioned especially for the occasion. Naturally this will stay in the collection of decorations to be used over and over again.

Aarya's other big love is clean and natural body products and she often concocts her own products at home for her family. Bhavna sourced out a local company who helped put together a natural beauty session where the girls made their own lip glosses and body butters out of oils, waxes and vegetable powders for dyes..

 

 

Remember that note on her invitation card, well, Aaryahi’s party has raised enough money to plant 66 trees through the SankalpTaru Foundation. Isn’t that amazing!

As a mum, I love when I find new uplifting ways to engage my son. A birthday party can be an expression of who you are and the values you believe in. It can be simple, with purpose, clutter free and fun, engaging and enlightening. We can use any occasion to think about our impact in our community and we can start at any age.
WRITTEN BY: Shanaya Gandhi