Review of Hearts for Hearts Girl Nahji from India

PRODUCT DETAILS:

UPC:  043377131311

Doll composition:  Vinyl

Hair color:  Black with brownish highlights

Eye color:  Brown

Skin color:  light brown

Nationality:  Indian

A portion of the purchase price goes to World Vision, a charity that helps children and their families worldwide through education, water, hygiene, microenterprise, community development, and disaster relief.

Produced by:  Playmates Toys

Date Produced:  2010

Made in China

Conforms to safety standards ASTM F963, which means a third party tested this product to make sure it would not injure your child--but it doesn't test whether the doll is flammable enough...so tell your child not to smoke when playing with it. :/

Recommended Age:  6+.  Not for children under three years, and the choking hazard should be taken seriously since this product does have small jewelry.

Awards:  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award Gold Seal

Websites:  www.hearts4heartsgirls.com;  www.playmatestoys.com; www.worldvision.org

Availability and price:    When first released, the dolls are available at Toys R Us and Target for $24.99.  However, when they go out of print, their prices go higher.  They now can be found on ebay and Amazon starting around $50.00.

Movement:  Classic baby doll.  Head can nod and turn side to side.  Eyes do not close and eyelashes are painted on.  Arms go up and down, back and forth.  Torso does not twist.  Legs go up and down.  Elbows, hands, knees, ankles do not bend.  The doll can stand on her own and sit down if propped by her hands or something else.

Height:  15 inches (38 cm)

Package contents:  1 fifteen inch doll with long, butt-length hair that has a pearl headband.  She has oval shaped earrings with a blue jewel, silver casing, and pearl on top.  She has a nose earring.  She has a pearl necklace in a silver casing that is on a purple cord.  She has three gold bangles.  She has a henna tattoo.  She wears a pink top with a white floral pattern on the cuffs and collar.  She wears light purple ski pants with a gold border at the bottom.  She wears purple plastic sandals.  She comes with a code that unlocks a kid-friendly website.  She comes with a light and dark purple double hearts bracelet on a black cord.  She has a teal comb with an extra red rubberband.  She comes with a booklet that tells her story.

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Of all the Hearts for Hearts dolls' stories that I have read,  I have to say that Nahji's story truly represents girl power.  If you don't love these dolls for the representation of other cultures, they also represent the concept that everyone can make a difference--no matter who they are or what their circumstances are.

Nahji is from Assam, India.  The northeastern part of India has many tea plantations.  Nahji's mother began harvesting tea when she was eight years old, and she married when she was thirteen.  Nahji's older sister Sutara started cleaning houses when she was ten years old.  Nahji makes money sewing beads onto saris.

Nahji, though, wanted a better life for herself.  She convinced her mother to let her go to an education center so she could learn to read and write.  She learned ways to help her family.  She bought runner ducks, which are valued for their eggs.

She also convinced her mother to plant vegetables in a huge garden in the back.  Soon, her mother and sister were able to quit their jobs.  The family runs their own vegetable stand where they sell eggs, ducks, and produce.  Nahji is able to go to school.  When she goes to her tea club on Sundays--which is a gathering of other girls to discuss problems, learn skills, and discuss how to be healthy and strong--Nahji encourages them to make different choices with their life rather than what society dictates.

Nahji's mother decided her daughter was grown up enough to get that henna tattoo she always wanted.  These tattoos are supposed to be good luck.

 

I found it difficult to get good pictures of this doll.  Though I liked 

the story, the doll itself didn't particularly impress me.  I suppose

the jewelry is nice--a little better than what the dolls normally come

with.

I wasn't that pleased with the henna tattoo.  These can be very

ornate, but Nahji just looks like she drew on herself.

The clothing is lightweight stretch knit with VELCRO fasteners in

the back (for the top--the pants just pull down).  I believe that the

gold border on the pants will probably be in danger of flaking when

washed and with shelf wear.

As Nahji was released in 2010, she will have the problem with both

the skin and eyes.  Hearts for Hearts dolls have eyes that often turn

color.  Brown eyes turn violet.  The company seems to be aware of

the problem now, but if you get a doll from 2010, it will have this

flaw.  The skin can also pale, and on dark skin dolls make them

look like zombies.  You can help keep the skin color by wiping it

with a moist rag.