the collaboration

marking the occasion of world disability day, the moonray craft collective and the jai vakeel foundation come together with an aligned vision for inclusion:
a world that has space for everyone in it, a world that is stronger for all.

inspired by the resilience and happiness of the jai vakeel children, avantika swali felt a strong desire to amplify the message of inclusion. as a result, she began illustrating and creating narratives
inspired by them, resulting in unique ‘moonchildren’ that serve as a thoughtful reminder to spotlight abilities rather than disabilities. their personalities were charming as ever, for instance: mario the
dog is a chef, norah the cat is a dancer, leo the bunny is a philosopher, ray the dog is a hockey player, cai the teddy is a magician, max is a rapper and maya is a marine biologist.

with the moonchildren, the jai vakeel foundation and the moonray collective, aim to spark widespread conversation about inclusion at large as well as the IDD community
and question the preconceived notions surrounding them, with sensitivity.

made from humble scrap fabrics, the moonchildren with distinct personalities are inspired by the children of the jai vakeel foundation; conceptualised and designed by avantika and karishma
swali and handcrafted by the enterprising female artisans of the chanakya school of craft. the many aspects of their personalities are brought to life using a combination of hand techniques
such as applique and contemporary versions of traditional needlepoint techniques such as satin stitch, cross-stitch, micro-beading and crochet.

“this collaboration brings together an aligned vision for inclusion, a world that has space for everyone in it — a world
that is stronger for all. the moonchildren are inspired by the children of the jai vakeel foundation and each time you gift a moonchild to a
loved one, you amplify the message of inclusivity. the ability to imagine an all-inclusive world is the
beginning of affecting meaningful change. art has the power to bring that imagination to life and amplify the voices of
those unheard. through excellence in art, we aim to challenge limiting narratives and spark conversation about inclusion at large.”

karishma swali, co-founder of moonray and creative director of chanakya international and the chanakya school of craft.

the jai vakeel foundation

too often, individuals with disabilities are labelled and judged based on their disabilities, instead of focusing on their abilities, leaving them feeling excluded, isolated and vulnerable. jai vakeel foundation was set up in 1944 by mr and mrs Vakeel, for their daughter dina, who was born with down’s syndrome, to thrive and be happy in. As the largest and oldest non-profit serving these children, their approach is holistic; they aim to integrate their students into society by providing them with healthcare, education and skill development. They commit to strive for inclusion of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities by maximising their potential.

moonray & the chanakya school of craft

helmed by avantika swali, co-founder of moonray and karishma swali, co-founder of moonray and creative director of chanakya international and the chanakya school of craft, moonray explores craft’s endless possibilities, designed for the modern world, it is testimony that the magic of artisans lives forever.

established in 2016, the chanakya school of craft aims to provide women from low - income communities with high-quality education in hand embroidery; thus enabling them to maximize their potential and enhance their lives. the school provides women from low-income communities a multi-dimensional education in arts and crafts, thereby promoting equal opportunity. today, the school has educated over 700 women giving them autonomy over their lives and their future.

each time you gift the moonchildren to a loved one, you amplify the message of inclusivity.
pledge to be a part of the movement and become an ambassador of inclusion.

discover the moonchildren

moonray will donate net proceeds to jai vakeel foundation.