Give the Gift of Culture! 5 Globally-inspired Gift Ideas

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Songs from the Baobab

Want a culturally-inspired present for that special someone? Hoping to add some culture to your family’s holiday wish-list?

Here are five globally-themed gifts to get you started! Plus, a chance to win a free music CD and storybook!

The Secret Garden’s World Music CDs & Storybooks

When it comes to musical edu-tainment, you can’t beat this award-winning multi-media collection. Our latest fave, Songs from the Baobab, has 29 African rhymes and lullabies, plus ethnically-infused updates on timeless Western classics like “Frère Jacques” played on a wooden xylophone.

Why You’ll Love It:

Authentic, not kid-ified, music that the whole family can enjoy. No insipid lyrics or mind-numbing melodies. This is real music made by real artists using indigenous instruments.
Superb artwork, arrangements and narration by noted artists and musicians, such as Paul Mindy and Bebel Gilberto.
Free printable files with the song lyrics, translations, cultural notes, and illustrations featured on each CD-storybook.
Your choice of hard-copy, digipak or digital download formats.

Give the gift of culture!

We All International Posters

No matter where we come from, every human has something in common and these posters drive that point home. Gorgeous full-color photos illustrate our basic needs (food, water, housing, work, and clothing), social needs (learn, play, go places, shop, and friends) and our need for self-esteem and respect (peace, health, energy, celebration, and create). Check out the posters here.

Why You’ll Love Them:

Give back to communities in need with 100 % of the proceeds going to support education and development projects around the world.
Celebrate human diversity with photos of women and men, girls and boys of different ages and ethnicities.
Free downloadable Teaching Resource pages with each photographer’s personal story about the photo, plus country stats and the country’s location.

Image courtesy RPCV International Calendar web-site

International Calendar

This award-winning calendar is the brainchild of a group of returned Peace Corps volunteers (“RPCVs” in Peace Corps parlance) who were looking for a way to share what they learned abroad with Americans back in the U.S. Click here for a preview of the 2012 calendar and the 12 stunning full-color photos of the people and places where volunteers have served.

Why You’ll Love It:

100 % of the proceeds go to support education and development projects around the world.
Educational summaries tell the story behind each image. You and your kids can learn the who, what and why of the people, places and traditions depicted.
Each eco-friendly calendar is printed on recycled paper with soy ink.

Jamtown Junior percussion set

Handcrafted Instruments

Fellow culture enthusiast and fair trade expert, Megy Karydes, recommends Jamtown. My fave? The acclaimed “Jamtown Junior” set, which includes rhythm sticks, shakers and a drum made by Peruvian and Balinese artisans. You also get a carrying bag for when you want to take the beat on the road.

Why You’ll Love Them:

Support low-income artisans with fair wages and promote sustainable economic development.
The “Jamtown Junior” set includes educational resources like rhythm cards, an all-percussion CD and an activity guide to help you learn and enjoy cultural rhythms.

Coloring Books & Paper

Budding artists might like the 30-page bilingual “Maya Arts and Crafts of Guatemala” coloring book that teaches about traditional artists in pictures and words. Or how about drawing your own creations on Sri Lankan elephant pooh paper made from dried dung (really, it’s not as icky as it sounds)?

Why You’ll Love Them:

Empower marginalized communities and women through fair trade purchases.
Download free parent’s and teacher’s guides and learn about the cultural dimension of fair-traded Maya arts and crafts.

It’s a Wrap!

Wondering how to wrap up all those cultural treasures? Click here to see how easy it is to make marbled paper.

Enter our give-away for a chance to win the “Songs from the Baobab” storybook and music CD!

Entering is easy-peasy. Just follow the prompts below. You can do one, some or all of the following. Want more chances to win? Then complete more of the options! The giveaway runs from December 5 through December 12, 2011.

FTC Disclosure: Culture Every Day received a complimentary copy of the “Songs from the Baobab” storybook and music CD. The opinions expressed here are my own.