Ten Thousand Villages, widely recognized as the oldest Fair Trade Organization in the world, is celebrating its 65th anniversary this year. What started as Ms. Edna Ruth Byler selling needleworks made by artisans in Puerto Rico in 1946 has evolved to two separate organizations in the US, and Canada, owned by the Mennonite Central Committee. Both Villages organizations together now work with hundreds of artisans in over 35 countries, selling their crafts at around 100 stores in North America.
Ten Thousand Villages Canada is sharing the story with a scrapbook of old times, and a video, at:
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