A starving Peruvian family. A powerless Bangladesh woman. A 4-year-old beggar. Different villages, similar basic needs — needs that are being helped by Ten Thousand Villages.
A fair portion of the profit from each handcrafted gift sold at Ten Thousand Villages, a store in Ann Arbor, gets returned to the pockets of the Third World artisans who made them. They automatically receive up to 50 percent in cash advances when an order is placed to produce more goods.
The benefit of selling crafts through Ten Thousand Villages is the ability to negotiate a fair price— one that covers the cost of materials and labor while properly raising a family, an impossibility in a Third World country. Even with high shipping costs, the affordability remains in the United States, all thanks to volunteers.
“People say that we’ve got the friendliest personnel, and we don’t get any pay for it!” joked Sharon Ongaro, who has been freely giving up her time for 3.5 years. “But it’s because we want to be here. We’re doing this out of the goodness of our hearts, and that makes a world of difference with attitude.”
The Ann Arbor site (Main Street near Liberty) is the No. 1 outlet belonging to the Ten Thousand Villages chain of 150 stores. Its high volunteer-to-employee ratio makes it unique to other fair trade stores in the area.
Beginning as a contract store that relied on fundraising, it’s now operated by 75 volunteers (including everyone on the Board of Directors). Only three core staff members and the full-time store manager are paid.
By doing this, artisans can rightfully receive the bulk of the profit; the bare necessities (electric, heating and rent) and payroll fall next on the totem pole.
“They (volunteers) are more motivated, enthused, passionate, successful … their heart is in it, and that makes them really successful, actually,” store manager Susan Rogal said. “Working here is a wakeup call. Those little snack wrap gift bags? It’s a reality that kids live off of this trash.”
Much of that trash, however, is often recycled into the items for sale. So in a way, purchasing those goods indirectly influences the clean-up of another country. The resourcefulness is incredible: bike chain figurines, decorative bowls make out of washers, clocks made from newspapers, picture frames from a tire, children’s stationery composed of elephant dung.
Meet Mr. Ellie Pooh— 100 percent recycled, 75 percent dung. No kidding. To convert the substance left behind by elephants the people of Sri Lanka boil it down, dry it out and process it like any other paper would be. Now, the excessive piles can be used to their advantage.
Haitians are following in their footsteps with the conservation of oil drums. By gathering up the cans that pollute the island and taking the rings off and hammering them down, decorative wall hangings are created.
Each gift in the fair trade retailer is of sustainable nature to assure environmental safety and has a unique story behind it. A profile on every item can be accessed after typing the skew to learn the hours and materials that went into it and what the proceeds fund (education, healthcare or housing).
Still, being many miles away, the crafters find ways to express their gratitude. A Philippine card-maker wrote a poem to express how the fair trade venue has changed her life: “You have given us much more than you think…For we have found each other; two halves of one heart, beating in synchrony for a better world.”
Twice a year, Ten Thousand Villages sends representatives from various outlets to participate in Learning Tours around the globe in order to meet the masters of the craft and pass on their stories throughout the states. Last year, the Ann Arbor store sent $10,000 to Kenya for relief aid, and now the chain is working side-by-side with Pakistanis during their tremendous floods. During each visit, cleanliness and safety are improved at the workshops.
Before Ten Thousand Villages works with a country the percentage of population living below the poverty level is examined. This assures the neediest of countries are supported. The Human Development Index then factors per capita income, life expectancy, adult literacy and educational enrollment. Referencing the Gini coefficient, which determines the equality of income distribution in a country, also helps make the decision.
Finally, the market access of a country is considered. Ten Thousand Villages prefers to buy from crafters most disconnected from North American markets based on geographic distance, transportation difficulties, social inequalities and organizational barriers.
By forming a partnership with the retailer (a founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization), there’s a guarantee of reliable, future employment, leading to economic security and value gain in the community.
“Some department stores have held limited-time fundraisers, but in some cases, that can do more harm than help because once it’s over, they’re left with nothing again,” Rogal said. “Rather than making some refrigerator magnet, they’re able to keep alive a weaving tradition that’s been alive for thousands of years (pointing to a textile). Now as a mother, instead of teaching her daughter how to beg, she teaches her how use these looms.”
Since 1946, Ten Thousand Villages has developed longstanding partnerships with 130 artisan groups in 38 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Rogal said 75 percent of the merchants are women, a giant step in equality considering Third World views.
“The fact that I can help give women a real chance to better themselves is why I love being here,” said Phyllis Garral, who has been volunteering for the last month.
“I’ve traveled through Latin America so I’ve seen first hand how these people live, and it’s heartbreaking.”
A stepping stone in which the entire concept is based is unity. Between each nook and cranny where there isn’t ornate jewelry, soap bars or fit-in-your-pocket goodies, it’s apparent. The logo, an image of rooftops, symbolizes the connection from Ann Arbor to the foreign lands. And who other than Mahatma Ghandi to inspire the company name:
“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 to eat and clothe themselves with.”
On a local level, the store will be donating 100 percent of profits from each Kisii stone paperweight to St. Clare’s Back Door Food Pantry in attempt to provide food for hungry Ann Arborites. The paperweights, created in Kenya, are $5.
In 2009, Ten Thousand Villages was chosen as one of the “World’s Most Ethical Companies” by the Ethisphere Institute and Forbes magazine, and it’s no wonder why. The appreciation the mission holds for poverty-stricken strangers is immense.
With the support of Ten Thousand Villages, Peruvian families can now be nourished. A Bangladesh woman can find hope. And a 4-year-old beggar can enjoy childhood.
