Kiumbes
KIUMBES – The Mysterious Parcel from Africa
Open it and you will change the lives of several people.
As parents, we know from our own experience that European children are swimming in toys. Toys from wood, plastic, cloth, toys that flash, play... toys that will end up somewhere in a box in the better instance, or that will break into useless torsos in the worst instance. In a few weeks, the children will not even think about these toys and parents will wonder why they even bought the toys in the first place. From such reflections, the idea to create a toy in Kenya sprang into existence. A fun and captivating toy even for European children and their parents, made from natural materials but which nevertheless conceals within it a certain something more. The good feeling that, by purchasing this toy, we will help African parents and their children.
How can I imagine the toy?
Five Kiumbe figures with captivating looks on their faces, a game plan, tokens to a board game and a book introducing the reader to the mysterious story of the Kiumbes and their child friends – all this is placed in a beautiful paper box looking like a postal parcel with a whole number of exotic stamps. Because the toy is primarily intended for children ages 7-11 who can already read by themselves, parts of the stories are told in the children’s all-time favourite form - a comics series. However, our mysterious parcel will also be liked by younger children who can play with the Kiumbe figures and tuck them into their little beds whilst their parents read them about the adventures that the Kiumbes experienced with Lizzie and Theo. The book and game initiate the children into the basic principles of nature and show that all what we see around us (water, rain, a stream, fire, wind, mountains, cliffs, stones in a stream, trees, metal, etc.) contains a certain magic, and especially life, within.
Kuimbes is a strange word, what exactly does it mean?
Kiumbes (from the Swahili Kiumbé - being) are the oldest beings in the world, which help to maintain balance in nature. The figures are produced by a traditional method involving the carving of soapstone so that they just fit into the children’s hand, polished and painted with certified, non-toxic colours. Our effort was to make the Kiumbes a little bit mysterious, but not frightening. So, in the same way as with the game and the story told in the book, we consulted them with a children’s psychologist. I must admit that we absolutely did not expect to enthuse so many people for our project. Everyone was maximally helpful. We wanted to produce a toy which would be absolutely competitive and its charitable effect merely a pleasant ‘cherry on top’ for the buyer. Thanks to all those mentioned above, I think that we have achieved this.
And where can I buy it?
We are trying to minimise costs as much as possible. That is why you can only buy the toy online on www.4kids.cz. You can find the link on our webpage.
