Sovi: A didactic, durable and environmentally friendly solution

The birth of baby Carolina led her parents, Yarelys Herrera and Daniel Hernández, to create the children’s brand Sovi, a venture defined by their own toys and designs, sometimes based on the experience of their customers.

During their interaction with other families in the WhatsApp group called Bebé Capaz – a platform aimed at exchanging ideas, experiences and lifestyles on respectful parenting – they noticed the absence of tools for the early stimulation of young children.

Following the guidelines of drawings on the Pinterest website, Hernández created wooden puzzles for Carolina, an initiative that boosted this venture, valued for its instructional approach and its emphasis on cognitive development during early childhood.

According to Herrera, the executive director of Sovi, the growth of the brand lies in its specialization and the link with other businesses and consumers, although she alludes to the continuous study and work to ensure the enterprise has a stable income.

In addition to ecological and educational toys and games, the project provides knowledge and spaces for joint learning activities and has among its hallmarks the inclusion of senior citizens in production, as a viable employment alternative.

“In this way we also contribute to the rescue of knowledge and ways of doing things, with the purpose of achieving a more durable and environmentally friendly final product. The goal is the implementation of a circular economy that promotes innovation and resilience of Sovi,” she explained.

In this sense, they offer four main product lines: wood, printed pieces, a cold ceramic collection and fabrics, each of which includes a wide range of well-designed products for the development of skills and abilities during this early stage of life.

In addition to this, the venture incorporates services such as advice and accompaniment at the time of selecting the toy, depending on the needs or characteristics of the child; and home delivery services in four locations in Havana: Guanabacoa, Habana Vieja, Arroyo Naranjo and Vedado.

“We use biodegradable and non-toxic materials for these ages. The manufacture of each of the articles is based on an updated and scientifically based bibliographic search, which is the origin of our most recent line of Taggies toys, the first of its kind in Cuba,” Herrera noted.

These sensory proposals, a product of the sewing skills of her mother-in-law, Yolanda Piloto, are also added to the workshops associated with the enterprise offerin didactic activities, free service and access and participation opportunities for boys and girls.

The name comes from the Russian word Sova, which means owl and, in addition, wisdom. “We wanted it to be easy to pronounce and remember, and our logo is an owl hugging its little one, because companionship is one of Sovi’s peculiarities.”

According to Yarelys Herrera, the business, which arose in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, took into account among its initial strategies the fear, desperation and stress of families regarding the learning process of their children, since they were confined to their homes.

“The current situation has allowed for more interaction with the public. Together with Mauren Miranda, a graduate in Education, we have created the children’s project Crece con Sovi, to provide spaces for discussion, exchange and learning between parents, institutions and children,” she concluded.