ten thousand villages

If you have not been to a Ten Thousand Villages store or to their website, please do so. You're in for a treat.

This morning I met with the women who run the store in Overland Park, Kansas, and they enthusiastically agreed to host a fund raising party this coming November - the 13th to be exact - for Change the Truth. Fifteen percent of everything that is sold in the store during our three hour "party" will go directly to CTT. They loved the paper bead jewelry that the kids and teachers at St. Mary Kevin's are making and are going to pitch them to the head honchos for consideration to include in the store's inventory. It's a longshot, but certainly worth a try.

I lifted the following from the Ten Thousand Villages website, just to give you an idea of what they're about. For more info and to peruse the wonderful items they have for sale, go shopping on the site!

"The inspiration for the name—Ten Thousand Villages—came from a Mahatma Gandhi quote: “…India is not to be found in its few cities but in the 700,000 villages…we have hardly ever paused to inquire if these folks get sufficient funds to eat and clothe themselves with.” Each village in the world represents a unique, distinctive people…offering extraordinary products born of their rich cultures and traditions.

Since 1946 Ten Thousand Villages has supported the work of literally tens of thousands of artisans in over 30 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East, making it one the largest fair trade organizations in North America. Working with more than 100 artisan groups, they purchase fine pieces from craftspeople with whom they have longstanding, nurturing relationships…helping to bring dignity to their lives.

Ten Thousand Villages is a founding member of the International Fair Trade Association, an organization that includes over 200 members in 55 countries, including many artisan groups in developing countries. They are part of a worldwide movement that is striving to improve the livelihood of disadvantaged people in developing countries through the expansion of fair trade."