Our Commitment to Sustainability

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.

Our VisionOne 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.

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.

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

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.

Our ArtisansWe work with m ore than 1 30 artisan groups in 36 countries

around the world .

Latin Am erica, East Asia, M iddle East, South Asia and Africa

“[To com e up with ideas] I dream and think, and dream and think.”

- Chhum Cley

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_cVDwo0iPA

Sustainability

• Economic Sustainability – provide sustainable incom e

opportunities through long-term fair trade relationships

• Environmental Sustainability– Goods are produced by hand,

using natural and recycled/repurposed m aterials.

• Social Responsibility – com m itted to em powering wom en and

educating others about Fair Trade.

Environm ental Sustainability

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed.” –

M ahatm a Gandhi

We encourage our artisans to work with eco-friendly 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.

Environm ental Sustainability

• Em phasis on sustainability with artisans, as well as with our business practices

back hom e.

• Innovation & Creativity with natural and recycled m aterials.

• Reduce carbon footprint through:

- Eco-friendly shipping (Sea shipm ents, less fuel than air freight, consolidate

shipm ents, U SPS Alternative Fleet)

- Eco-friendly store m odels (recycled flooring, environm entally safe paints,

handm ade fixtures using natural m aterials, gift wrap is hand m ade by artisans in

Bangladesh)

Working with Natural M aterials

• Bamboo• Palm Leaves• Water Weeds• Sea and River Shells• Sustainable Wood or “Good Wood” – farms that replant trees• …Even Fruit

U sing Natural M aterials

http://www.youtube.com /watch?v= 9m K -k2orS0I

Working with Natural M aterials

http://www.youtube.com /watch?v= m CVsBgx3D j4

U sing Recycled M aterials

http://www.youtube.com /user/tenthousandvillages#p/u/4/L_D ON LRhQ Jw

Everyday bags used to m ake Ten Thousand Villages products

“Swords to Plowshares”

War in Cam bod ia littered the landscape with bom b casings and

unexploded bom bs.

Share Peace Tea L ight H older

Econom ic Sustainability

• Alleviate Poverty through trade, not aid

• U se sales profits to increase artisan purchases & expand d istribution channels

• Long-term relationships

• Cash advances and prom pt final paym ents

• Capital allows artisans to purchase equipm ent & resources without going into debt by

taking out high interest loans.

• Artisans are paid in full before products are m arked down or placed on sale.

Econom ic Sustainability through M arket

Growth

- M ore than 78 Retail Locations in the U S.

- Growth in our m arkets = im proved lives for our artisans and their fam ilies

- Opened six new stores in 201 0, and five in 201 1

- Burgeoning e-com m erce website

- Wholesale supplier to several hundred retailers

Econom ic Sustainability

Creating H ope, Trinity Jewelry Craft, Nairobi,

K enya

http://www.youtube.com /watch?v= Cq6b3LH q-7Q

Econom ic Sustainability

Opportunity, Not Sympathy –

Bom bolulu Jewelry Craft, K enya

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qKQWu8Sjok

Why Sustainability is Critical 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 product

across all channels.

Inspiring Trees Wall H anging

Leaf and Branch M ug

Sam phors attends law school in order to becom e an advocate for the d isabled .

Artisans craft a new holiday ornam ent for 201 1

Artisans craft a new scarf for 201 1

In 1 995, Chantavong helped start sister organization Lao

Sericulture Com pany, which works with silk production and

supplies silk thread to Phontong weavers.

“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