Peaceful Partners

Who's Partnering with Peace?

How to Partner with Peace

Artisan Story

Instead of attending school, children and adults from Lusaka, Zambia or other developing countries sell vegetables all day, every day in order to survive. Why? They, like millions of children in sub-Saharan Africa, live in a land where extreme poverty is the norm, many children are orphaned by AIDS, health care is woefully inadequate, and public education is substandard. One thing is clear. They need our help.

The following facts speak for themselves. There are 14 million AIDS orphans today and 95% of them live in Africa; over 12,000 children under age five die every day from preventable and curable diseases; universal primary education will not be achieved before the year 2129; and the life expectancy in developing countries is approximately 36 years of age.

Ten Thousand Villages is dedicated to helping these people. Through action, this group promotes justice, love and peace in a world scarred by inequality and injustice. At the Ten Thousand Villages store locations, you will find a variety of high-quality, handmade crafts and products for all sorts of occasions.

Ten Thousand Villages is a founding member of the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT) and a member of the Fair Trade Federation (FTF), both of which aim to improve the livelihood of disadvantaged people in developing countries and to change unfair structures of international trade. They bring into our communities an awareness of the exploitation of our poor sisters and brothers in developing countries and promote an understanding of fair trade.

To practice fair trade, Ten Thousand Villages needs to know the artisans and groups they work with around the world. Being a program of Mennonite Central Committee gives them a worldwide network of volunteers and like-minded organizations that enables the group to be in touch with and know the artisan.

In addition, they seek out artisans who are particularly disadvantaged and without ready access to resources or assistance. Ten Thousand Villages honors the value of seeking to bring justice and hope to the poor, providing for production expenses, consistent purchases, advances and prompt final payments, paying vital fair income to artisans who would otherwise be unemployed or underemployed, and guaranteeing good working conditions. 

With a mission at its core not unlike Peace’s own, a Queen of Peace-Ten Thousand Villages collaboration seems only natural. Peace will also work with Catholic Relief Services, Chicago Fair Trade, and Rangi Mingi Gallery.