IMPORTANCE OF PLAYPLAY2LEARN
Twenty years ago, The Opentree Foundation began with a simple belief — that Play is not a luxury, but a necessity. What started in 2004 with one small group of children has grown into a movement transforming learning across 12 districts in Maharashtra. Through partnerships with 600+ under-resourced schools and 10,000+ teachers, we’ve seen how play unlocks imagination, resilience, confidence, and connection — helping children truly thrive.
This year marked a milestone moment. We hosted India’s first Play Summit, bringing together educators, policymakers, and community leaders to champion play as central to learning and wellbeing. Our recognition by HundrED.org as a leading global education innovation reaffirmed what we’ve always known — that play has the power to change lives.
"Through our Conscious Play approach, we’ve turned classrooms into spaces of curiosity and discovery, helping every child experience the joy of learning and the confidence to explore the world."
Shweta Chari
Co-founder & CEO, The Opentree Foundation
The 2024–2025 Annual Report celebrates this 20-year journey of learning, adapting, and staying rooted in the belief that every child deserves to experience the joy and freedom of play. As we look to the future, our next bold step is clear: to reach one million children by 2030 and build systems that embed play as a right, not a privilege.
Because when we choose play, we choose a future filled with possibility and dignity.
