Angel Website of the Month

Ten Thousand Villages

Discover a World That Makes a Difference

At Ten Thousand Villages, we work with over 100 artisan groups in more than 30 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America to bring you fair trade jewelry, home decor, gifts and more. As one of the world's oldest and largest fair trade organizations, we build long-term relationships with artisans that are based on mutual understanding and respect. Fair trade enables artisans to earn a fair wage and provides the opportunity for a better quality of life.

What Fair Trade Means to Artisans

Bringing Hope, Dignity, Joy and Respect

Many artisans tell us that fair trade brings them much more than regular work and fair pay. They begin to see hope for the future, earn dignity and respect in their community and experience joy in being able to provide for their families:

Fair Trade Means Hope Shantha Lakshmi is a palm leaf artisan who is a member of the artisan group called SHARE near the town of Vellore in Tamil Nadu, southern India.

Fair Trade Means Dignity
Lucio Malhue is a potter in his brother’s workshop in Pomaire, Chile.

Fair Trade Means Joy
Making kaisa grass baskets brings joy to Kalpana Rani in Hazigonj, Bangladesh.

A Worldwide Movement

Ten Thousand Villages is part of a worldwide movement striving to practice fair trade. We are one of over 300 IFAT members in 70 countries. IFAT members agree that fair trade is an alternative approach to conventional international trade. It is a trading partnership aimed at sustainable development for excluded and disadvantaged producers. It seeks to do this by providing better trading conditions, by raising awareness and by campaigning.

The IFAT key principles of fair trade include:

Creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged producers
Transparency and accountability
Capacity building
Payment of a fair price
Gender equity
Good working conditions
Care for the environment

As a member of IFAT, Ten Thousand Villages signs an annual document confirming that we subscribe to these principles of fair trade and to the IFAT code of practice. In addition, we complete a regular self-evaluation for IFAT and will participate in the random audit process that IFAT is establishing for its members.

Click here to shop at Ten Thousand Villages

To view all past Angel Websites of the month, please click here.


	Angel Website of the Month Ten Thousand Villages Discover a World That Makes a Difference At Ten Thousand Villages, we work with over 100 artisan groups in more than 30 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America to bring you fair trade jewelry, home decor, gifts and more. As one of the world's oldest and largest fair trade organizations, we build long-term relationships with artisans that are based on mutual understanding and respect. Fair trade enables artisans to earn a fair wage and provides the opportunity for a better quality of life. What Fair Trade Means to Artisans Bringing Hope, Dignity, Joy and Respect Many artisans tell us that fair trade brings them much more than regular work and fair pay. They begin to see hope for the future, earn dignity and respect in their community and experience joy in being able to provide for their families: Fair Trade Means Hope Shantha Lakshmi is a palm leaf artisan who is a member of the artisan group called SHARE near the town of Vellore in Tamil Nadu, southern India. Fair Trade Means Dignity Lucio Malhue is a potter in his brother’s workshop in Pomaire, Chile. Fair Trade Means Joy Making kaisa grass baskets brings joy to Kalpana Rani in Hazigonj, Bangladesh. A Worldwide Movement Ten Thousand Villages is part of a worldwide movement striving to practice fair trade. We are one of over 300 IFAT members in 70 countries. IFAT members agree that fair trade is an alternative approach to conventional international trade. It is a trading partnership aimed at sustainable development for excluded and disadvantaged producers. It seeks to do this by providing better trading conditions, by raising awareness and by campaigning. The IFAT key principles of fair trade include: Creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged producers Transparency and accountability Capacity building Payment of a fair price Gender equity Good working conditions Care for the environment As a member of IFAT, Ten Thousand Villages signs an annual document confirming that we subscribe to these principles of fair trade and to the IFAT code of practice. In addition, we complete a regular self-evaluation for IFAT and will participate in the random audit process that IFAT is establishing for its members. Click here to shop at Ten Thousand Villages To view all past Angel Websites of the month, please click here.	Journey for Change: Empowering Youth Through Global Service is a volunteer program that recently took 30 at-risk youth from Bushwick, Brooklyn to Johannesburg, South Africa. Please click here to learn more. To support the year-long program, please click here. To view a CNN.com video of the participants in South Africa, please click here. To read Soledad O'Brien's Behind the Scenes: Out of Bushwick on CNN.com, please click here. To read Journey for Change participant blogs on CNN.com, please click here. To read the cover story on Journey for Change in Time For Kids Magazine, please click here To view pictures taken by Journey for Change Participants on Timeforkids.com, please click here To view Journey for Change photos, please click here. JOURNEY FOR CHANGE SPONSORS Sponsors Media Sponsors (RED) was created by Bono and Bobby Shriver, Chairman of DATA to raise awareness and money for The Global Fund by teaming up with the world's most iconic brands to produce (PRODUCT)RED branded products. A percentage of each (PRODUCT)RED product sold is given to The Global Fund. The money helps women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa. Read about Annie Hausmann, a full-time volunteer living in Bergen County, New Jersey. Read about Linda Langstraat, Executive Director and founder of Adopt-A-Grandparent. The Sustainable South Bronx National Organization of the Month Free the Children International Organization of the Month New News out of Africa by Charlayne Hunter-Gault Higher Grounds Trading Co. is a company fueled by its social mission and driven by a passion for sourcing the highest quality coffees from around the world.
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