Making wonderful works from waste is always cool, but when it is happening in a war zone and a soldier is the creative mind behind upcycled toys for children, it also becomes socially significant.
US soldier Rupert Valero is currently stationed in Afghanistan where, in his spare time, he makes toys from recycled materials. Using whatever materials he can find, Valero’s creations encompass a fantastic variety of imagination, whimsy and creativity.
He is particularly fond of making action figures and robots. Valero said in an interview that building the figures helped him to interact with the locals and connect with them in a way that otherwise might not have been possible. He believes that toys are universal and help to spread joy.
