Empowering artisans around the world
Ten Thousand Villages event in Barton Sept. 28 and 29
St. Mary’s Bay Baptist Church is making a difference in the lives of artisans around the world by selling exquisite, handcrafted gifts and home décor.
The Ten Thousand Villages event will be held at St. Mary’s Bay Baptist Church, 8304 Highway # 1, Sept. 28 and 29. It offers an opportunity for people to make a difference by shopping fair trade. Shoppers will also learn more about skilled artisans in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
In its 12th year, the sale will showcase a beautiful assortment of musical instruments, pottery, jewellery, baskets, toys, crèches and hand loomed textiles.
The ceramics workshop of Giang Nhung, in Bat Trang Vietnam, is part of the non-profit organization, Mai Handicrafts. The workshop employs 42 staff, 33 of which are women. The artisans pride themselves on preserving the tradition of ceramic making, while creating contemporary pieces. They also preserve and restore local traditional pagodas throughout Bat Trang to preserve the traditional culture of the community.
Luong Thi Huong is 36 years old and has worked with the workshop for four years now. She learned the craft 15 years ago from an elder at the workshop. Since working with fair trade she has come to rely on the stable income, good working environment, supply of tools when re- quired and a job she enjoys. This year her fair wage has allowed her to build a new home, something she was unable to do prior when her income came from her farm and the odd ceramic job.
Le Thi Thuy Huyen has been with the workshop for six years now and wants to share that because of fair trade she is able to work at a job that she is passionate about while earning a stable income for her family.
Ten Thousand Villages works with artisans who would otherwise be unemployed, or underemployed. It creates opportunities for artisans in developing countries to earn an income by bringing their products and stories to markets in North America.
This income helps pay for food, education, health care, and housing. Ten Thousand Villages works with more than 120 different artisan groups from more than 30 countries across the globe.
“By holding this sale, we’re giving customers in Barton a chance to buy unique products while helping people in developing countries to meet basic needs for themselves and their family. Together we are making a difference,” says Lori Bertaux, sale organizer.
The event will run Friday, Sept. 28 from 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 29 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
All proceeds of the sale support artisans partnered with Ten Thousand Villages, the oldest and largest Fair Trade Organization in North America, (over 70 years). The sale owes its success to dedicated local volunteers.