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Although the mall can be the obvious solution for your shopping needs, there are other options available that allow you to really get into the spirit of giving gifts for the holidays. Stylish presents that support charities can be purchased. Here are three shops in Jakarta that will enable you to give back to the community.

The Red Feather Shop

The Red Feather Shop produces doll houses and furniture made of wood.

The houses are available in three styles: a classic Swiss chalet, an L-shaped house, which can be painted in any color and a Georgian-style house with a range of rooftop colors. Furniture includes doll cradles and canopy beds.

The shop also makes forts, castles and garages, which can be perfect gifts for boys. Prices vary from Rp 350,000 ($37) to Rp 2.7 million ($285). All of the benefits go to Wisma Cheshire, the local branch of Leonard Cheshire Disability, an international organization committed to providing services for people with disabilities.

The organization cares for 26 residents whose families cannot afford to keep them at home. The residents produce the wooden crafts in a workshop next to the store.

The Red Feather Shop/Yayasan Wisma Cheshire
Jl. Wijaya Kusuma No. 15A
Cilandak, South Jakarta
Tel. 021 769 2059
Email. wisma_cheshire@yahoo.com

Nina Bobo

Children, especially girls, will love these dolls from Nina Bobo. Various options for sleepwear and swimwear are also available. Prices vary from Rp 250,000 ($26) to 280,000 ($30). For a cheaper option, try the toy food — cupcakes, sushi set, pasta and pizza, all made from felt — for Rp 85,000 ($9). Sara, the owner of the shop, has been making the dolls for five years. The proceeds go to an orphanage in Yogyakarta.

Nina Bobo
Jl. Kemang Selatan 1 no. 20C
(next to Hero Kemang, beside a flower shop)
South Jakarta
Tel. 021 718 0011
www.anakdolls.com

Temple Trees

This fancy shop in South Jakarta cooperates with the Orangutan Foundation in Kalimantan to produce orangutan photos, printed on canvas, in different sizes.

Prices range from Rp 450,000 ($48) to Rp 1.5 million ($159). These photos would make a great gift for people who are concerned about wildlife or anyone who just loves orangutans. All proceeds go to the foundation.

They also have polo shirts for kids with cute orangutan images. The shirts, available in blue, pink or white, cost Rp 95,000 ($10) each, with Rp 10,000 of that going to the foundation. This could be a good gift for children to raise awareness about the nearly extinct orangutan.

Temple Trees
Jl. Senopati no. 66, Kebayoran Baru
Tel. 021 726 1211
www.templetrees.net


Some Innovative (and Free) Gift Ideas From the Jakarta Globe Newsroom

1 “I once wrote a poem for my mom.” (Zack Petersen, copy editor)
2 “Handmade Christmas socks. Baked cookies.” (Marcel Thee, features reporter)
3 “IOU [I Owe You] card, offering to do chores for someone.” (Ella Davison, copy editor)
4 “Send someone special a prayer.” (Sylviana Hamdani, features reporter)
5 “A kiss.” (Doli Tobing, designer)
6 “Recycle old magazines to make a greeting card.” (Fidelis Eka Satriastanti, reporter)