Local shoppers looking for unique handcrafted items will be happy to know the Ten Thousand Villages Fair Trade Sale is back for a longer run at a new location in 100 Mile House.
Ten Thousand Villages is a non-profit fair-trade organization. It partners with artisans in developing countries around the world, helping them earn an income with their handcrafted products, including pottery, home décor, musical instruments, jewelry, Christmas ornaments, toys, textiles, coffee, spices and chocolate.
Last year, the sale in 100 Mile House generated close to $31,000.
“The concept behind Ten Thousand Villages is such a big part of my heart and passion,” says organizer Laura Baerg.
“I'm really excited this year because I found a new location downtown. I'm hoping to draw some new people in.”
The sale goes Nov. 20-29 at 205-3 Birch Ave. It will be open late for Moonlight Madness on Nov. 21.
“It's an opportunity for people in this town to buy some really beautiful things, and knowing those purchases are for families and people in developing countries for food and water and health care and education.”
Many of the artisans have touching and inspirational stories, Baerg explains.
An artisan group in Haiti cuts pieces of metal from large oil drums and recycles the material into art.
Women from Bangladesh, who have broken away from the sex trade, now work for a group called Sacred Mark, where they have the freedom and opportunity to earn a sustainable income to support their families, using recycled saris to make beautiful blankets, scarves, pillows and bags.
Uganda Crafts is an organization managed by the disadvantaged to help the disadvantaged. Most of the artisans are physically disabled, widowed or suffering from HIV/AIDS. A majority of Uganda Crafts' artisans are women, who hand-weave banana fibre and raffia leaf into baskets.
Baerg says she's grateful for all the community support for the event, adding more volunteers are needed.
For more information, contact 250-945-4791.