Eco-friendly toys provide children with smart and sustainable fun

Over her four-year journey as a health skills trainer, 21-year-old Rahaf Abu Mayaleh encountered a series of obstacles, chief among them being the lack of innovative tools and games designed to aid children in learning basic health skills. She observed that existing children’s games were not only costly but also crafted from environmentally harmful materials like plastic. Motivated to effect change, Rahaf resolved to become an advocate for climate action and enhancement in the teaching of fundamental skills to children aged 2 to 8. “For every challenge, there is a solution, and here lies our responsibility as environmentally conscious young entrepreneurs,” Rahaf explains.

Rahaf joined Startup Roadshow 4, a collaborative initiative by Jusoor and SPARK as part of the Skills, Training and Education Programme, financed by the Islamic Development Bank and the Abdul Aziz al Ghurair Refugee Education Fund. Rahaf was among 263 entrepreneurs and 108 innovative startup ideas that developed and launched their business proposals throughout the programme. 

Throughout the process, 4Health Edu became a fully Jordanian eco-conscious toy brand and an interactive online learning platform. The platform is designed to provide valuable Arabic language health-related courses catering to children aged 2-8 years and their parents, featuring a curated series of topics including personal hygiene, nutritional well-being and physical fitness. 

Rahaf highlights the toy industry’s role in tackling climate change, pointing out its heavy use of plastic materials and single-use products that worsen environmental problems. “Given that we work with children,” Rahaf stated, “it’s crucial that what they interact with and absorb today remains with them.” 4Health Edu products prioritise sustainable materials, aiming to be resilient and eco-friendly for both children and the environment.

“Young people like us don’t wait for governments to solve climate issues,” Rahaf affirmed. “Instead, we actively work towards bringing about the necessary changes.”

The Startup Roadshow 4 spanned half a year, featuring a sequence of in-person hackathons held across Jordan and Lebanon, attracting more than 263 enthusiastic entrepreneurs from Syria, Jordan, Palestine and Lebanon. Rahaf managed to progress to the incubation phase, acquiring invaluable knowledge and training to launch her startup. “I have a startup today that has great potential to grow,” she explained. 

4Health Edu began with just one full-time employee but has since expanded, generating three additional full-time job opportunities and assembling a team of freelancers. Moreover, Rahaf founded an inventive environmental endeavor known as the “E-Waste Bank” in Ash-Shunah Al Janubiyah aimed at curbing waste buildup and mitigating toxic emissions.