Designed to fight against otherism, the Worldwide Buddies subscription box teaches children about the reality other kids face across the world. Created by a newly launched startup founded by Evi Triantafyllides, the subscription box comes with a book, toys and other games that showcase a specific culture. All of the items are designed by Triantafyllides and the other co-founder of the Worldwide Buddies box.
Inspired by Triantafyllides' upbringing in Cyprus -- a cultural melting pot of different cultures -- the box aims to address socio-political issues currently facing the world. The first box works to address the discrimination of migrants from Mexico by offering a box inspired by Mexico's Day of the Dead. According to Triantafyllides, the goal of the first box is to ensure kids don't see "Mexican children as ‘Other.'"
Cultural Education Subscription Boxes
The 'Worldwide Buddies' Box Hopes to Fight Otherism
Trend Themes
1. Cultural Subscription Boxes - Cultural subscription boxes create a new opportunity for businesses to provide educational and entertaining products that teach children about cultures different from their own.
2. Addressing Socio-political Issues Through Education - Using education as a tool to address socio-political issues is a disruptive innovation opportunity for businesses. With the advent of subscription boxes, addressing these issues can reach a wider audience and provide a range of products that engage and entertain children.
3. Fighting Otherism - Fighting otherism, whether it be racism or xenophobia, presents an opportunity for businesses to provide products and services that help to create a more tolerant and inclusive society. Cultural education subscription boxes are one such innovative tool to achieve this goal.
Industry Implications
1. Toy Industry - The toy industry could provide subscription boxes focused on cultural education as a new product category and to help address socio-political issues.
2. Education Industry - The education industry could benefit from incorporating cultural subscription boxes into their curricula to provide more immersive and engaging educational experiences for students.
3. Publishing Industry - The publishing industry could collaborate with startups like Worldwide Buddies to create books and other materials to complement cultural education subscription boxes, offering a range of engaging products to consumers.