Every time when it’s someone’s birthday or when there is a special occasion, I frantically search for gifts or hampers that: a) are presentable with a unique flavour and b) give back to the community. Not an easy task if you want a special present for your client or for a friend!
So, I sat down and compiled a list of 6 charities that have some special ideas for gifts for your next purchase.
1. The Batik Boutique
The top of my list has to go to The Batik Boutique – uniquely Malaysian in design, employing 300+ artisans with fair wages, they have trained 150+ women in marketable skills and are creating stronger communities with 1500+ beneficiaries. The Batik Boutique is located on Jalan Doraisamy and Desa Sri Hartamas in Kuala Lumpur and in Westin Desaru. I particularly love the KLCC etched tumbler and notebook, priced at RM189.
They offer batik workshops too, another fun way to support this place.
2. Komuniti Tukang Jahit
My next offering seems to be similar to The Batik Boutique, but has expanded to help the more needy: Komuniti Tukang Jahit. They are a platform that builds and empowers a community of B40 women by providing up-skill training and sewing job opportunities and boast of fully customisable hampers – with gifts that ‘transform lives, uplift communities and preserve the environment’. They support several charities and communities like Kindness, PichaEats, The Asli Co., Kechara, Langit, Tumboh and others – see a full description here. I only wish they would list even more charities under them.
3. Dignity for Children Foundation
This amazing organization called Dignity for Children Foundation is a non-governmental organisation providing holistic care and education for urban poor children in Kuala Lumpur. They help more than 1,860 children ranging from 2-19 years old. One of their initiatives is SewX – you can find their full catalogue here, everything from sewn ang pow packets to tote bags, which are all great as gifts!
Contact them here for bulk orders or personalised gifts. You can also hold small events at their cafe or get yummy goodies from BakeX.
4. Helping Hands Penan
Next are those amazing hand-crafted bags you have probably seen at most bazaars: Helping Hands Penan. Assisting the hunter-gatherer tribe deep in the heart of Borneo, where they make a living using their traditional skills of basket weaving. If you haven’t gotten your hands on one of these bags, you need one! Perfect as gifts too.
The catalogue is here, but they are always updating and improving designs. So do check their website regularly.
5. Deepavalihamper.com
If you’re looking for something sweeter for gifts: Deepavalihamper.com, which is wholly owned by Diyaa Fine Confectionery, a social enterprise. All the sweets are specially made by mums at home who are passionate and skilful in making Indian sweets. Their sustainable sourced wooden boxes look super cute and although I haven’t tasted the fare, it looks yum. Not just for Deepavali!
6. Earth Heir
I really like what Earth Heir is about: “We advocate conscious consumption, environmental stewardship and seek to help create sustainable livelihoods for craftspeople and disadvantaged groups“.
They have supplied to a wide range of corporate clients and have a wide collection of items you can gift – check out their hampers on page 73 of their catalogue. Their studio is located in Ampang and is open Monday to Friday.
If you’re stuck looking for other charities to support, please check out Malaysia’s largest open directory of NGOs and social organisations here. Though some of the links may be outdated, it’s still a great resource.
Do you know of any other charities or social enterprises with great gifting ideas? Please do give the writer feedback – she would love to hear from you.
