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Ten Thousand Villages (Global)

Fair Trade and Hope

Shantha Lakshmi is a palm leaf artisan who is a member of the artisan group called SHARE near the town of Vellore in Tamil Nadu, southern India. Many families living near Vellore do not earn enough income to be able to afford the good medical care provided by the local Christian Medical Hospital. As part of its community outreach program the hospital started the SHARE program as an effort to provide income earning opportunities for women who can not afford medical care for themselves and their children. Over the last 25 years SHARE has grown to include more than 500 women making palm leaf products ranging from baskets to decorative streamers. Because of Ten Thousand Villages, many of the women, including Shantha, now have regular work most of the year and are now able to afford medical care and education for their children.

Shantha Lakshmi, a palm leaf artisan and member of the artisan group SHARE in Tamil Nadu, southern India.

Shantha was not able to go to school because her family could not afford to send her. She is looking forward to sending her young daughter to school now that she is working as a full time member of SHARE making palm leaf streamers and other products. Her employment and income has given her self-confidence and hope for the future.

One of Shantha’s colleagues at SHARE, Rani Kempu, said, “This income (from fair trade) lets me make my own decisions and helps me care for my children and family. I don’t ask my husband or parents to help me meet my basic needs, I cover them myself.”

The women of SHARE have hope for the future as a result of their working together. The income they earn helps them to look after their families and build up their community.

The Vendor

Ten Thousand Villages is a voice for 110 artisan groups in more than 30 countries. With exquisite home décor, textiles, baskets, jewelry and musical instruments made by talented artisans in Africa, Asia and Latin America, Ten Thousand Villages offers consumers in North America an opportunity to buy locally to directly affect global change.


The Producers

Ten Thousand Villages is a nonprofit, self-supporting alternative trading organization headquartered in Akron, Pa., that provides vital, fair income to artisans in developing countries by marketing their handicrafts and telling their stories in North America. Ten Thousand Villages has been working around the world since 1946 and has 180 North American stores. For more information, visit www.tenthousandvillages.com.

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