Ten Thousand Villages is a nonprofit that provides income opportunities for artisans in developing countries by connecting them to markets in North America. It has over 130 artisan groups in 36 countries and aims to pay artisans fair wages, treat them with dignity, and help them live quality lives. The organization is committed to economic, environmental, and social sustainability through long-term relationships with artisans and promoting the use of natural and recycled materials.

1. Our C ommitment to
Sustainability

2. Our Mission
To create opportunities for artisans in developing countries to earn income
by bringing their product and stories to our markets through long-term,
fair trading relationships.

3. Our Vision
One day all artisans in the developing countries will
earn a fair wage, be treated with dignity and respect
and be able to live a life of quality.

4. Ten Thousand Villages…
• Founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization
• 150 Retail locations throughout the US
• Unique global gifts, home décor, art and personal accessories
• Rooted in a mission to provide sustainable income opportunities
to people in developing countries.

5. Fair Trade Means…
• A Fair Price – we pay mutually agreed upon fair prices for artisans’
creations
• Cash Advances and Prompt Final Payment – capital up front helps build
sustainable businesses
• Long-Term Relationships – Consistent orders support artisans’ long-term
planning (average length of relationship is 13.5 years)
• Deign Collaboration – trend and style information helps artisans adapt
traditional skills
• Environmental Responsibility – we emphasize sustainable practices,
recycled and natural materials

6. Our History
• Began 65 years ago --- Edna Byler witnessed overwhelming poverty while visiting
Puerto Rico in 1946.
• Provided sustainable economic opportunities for artisans in developing countries
by creating a viable marketplace for their products in North America.
• Grassroots campaign selling handcrafted products from trunk of her car.
• Worked tirelessly for the next 30 years to connect artisans in developing countries
with market opportunities in North America.
• Ten Thousand Villages has grown to a global network of social entrepreneurs
working to provide sustainable economic opportunities to artisans in developing
nations.

7. Our Artisans
We work with m ore than 1 30 artisan groups in 36 countries
around the world .
L atin Am erica, East Asia, M idd le East, South Asia and Africa

8. “[To com e up with id eas] I dream and think, and d ream and think.”
- C hhum C ley

9. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_cVDwo0i

10. Sustainability
• E conomic Sustainability – provid e sustainable incom e
opportunities through long-term fair trad e relationships
• E nvironmental Sustainability– Good s are prod uced by hand ,
using natural and recycled /repurposed m aterials.
• Social Responsibility – com m itted to em powering wom en and
ed ucating others about Fair Trad e.

11. Environm ental Sustainability
“E arth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed.” –
M ahatm a Gand hi
We encourage our artisans to work with eco-friend ly m aterials. M aterials can be
natural, such as palm leaves and sea shells, or they can be recycled m aterials like
snack bags and juice boxes.

12. Environm ental Sustainability
• Em phasis on sustainability with artisans, as well as with our business practices
back hom e.
• Innovation & C reativity with natural and recycled m aterials.
• Reduce carbon footprint through:
- Eco-friend ly shipping (Sea shipm ents, less fuel than air freight, consolid ate
shipm ents, U SPS Alternative Fleet)
- Eco-friend ly store m od els (recycled flooring, environm entally safe paints,
hand m ad e fixtures using natural m aterials, gift wrap is hand m ad e by artisans in
Banglad esh)

13. Working with N atural M aterials

15. U sing N atural M aterials
• Bamboo
• Palm Leaves
• Water Weeds
• Sea and River Shells
• Sustainable Wood or “Good Wood” – farms that replant trees
• …Even Fruit
http:/ www.youtube.com /
/ watch?v= 9m K -k2orS0I

16. Working with N atural M aterials
http:/ www.youtube.com /
/ watch?v= m C VsBgx3D j4

17. U sing Recycled M aterials
http:/ www.youtube.com /
/ user/tenthousand villages#p/ 4/ _D O N L RhQ Jw
u/ L

18. Everyd ay bags used to m ake Ten Thousand Villages prod ucts

19. “Sword s to Plowshares”
War in C am bod ia littered the land scape with bom b casings and
unexplod ed bom bs.

21. Share Peace Tea L ight H old er

22. Econom ic Sustainability
• Alleviate Poverty through trad e, not aid
• U se sales profits to increase artisan purchases & expand d istribution channels
• L ong-term relationships
• C ash ad vances and prom pt final paym ents
• C apital allows artisans to purchase equipm ent & resources without going into d ebt by
taking out high interest loans.
• Artisans are paid in full before prod ucts are m arked d own or placed on sale.

23. Econom ic Sustainability through M arket
Growth
- M ore than 78 Retail L ocations in the U S.
- Growth in our m arkets = im proved lives for our artisans and their fam ilies
- O pened six new stores in 201 0, and five in 201 1
- Burgeoning e-com m erce website
- Wholesale supplier to several hund red retailers

25. Econom ic Sustainability
C reating H ope, Trinity Jewelry C raft, N airobi,
K enya
http:/ www.youtube.com /
/ watch?v= C q6b3L H q-7Q

26. Econom ic Sustainability
Opportunity, Not Sympathy –
Bom bolulu Jewelry C raft, K enya
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qKQWu8Sjok

27. Why Sustainability is C ritical to U s
For our artisans to survive, our business m ust be sustainable at all levels.
We have to m ake enough m oney to survive without subsid ies and contributions.
N one of our efforts m atter m uch if we can’t run a successful business from how we
purchase from our artisans to how we m arket and ultim ately sell our prod uct
across all channels.

28. Inspiring Trees Wall H anging

29. L eaf and Branch M ug

30. Sam phors attend s law school in ord er to becom e an ad vocate for the d isabled .

32. Artisans craft a new holid ay ornam ent for 201 1

33. Artisans craft a new scarf for 201 1

34. In 1 995, C hantavong helped start sister organization L ao
Sericulture C om pany, which works with silk prod uction and
supplies silk thread to Phontong weavers.

36. “D o your little bit of good where you are; its those little bits of good put together that
overwhelm the world .” – D esm ond Tutu