Who We Are
"We call it the gift that gives twice.
Saying it that way lets people know that when they buy a gift
from Village, they’re actually feeding a family in a Developing Country."
Village International is
a 100 per cent non-profit organization that supports and
assists in the development of community-based enterprises overseas
and in Canada that strive to create more equitable relationships
between producers and consumers.
Through co-ops built by Ten
Thousand Villages, a Mennonite group, workers from Developing Countries are able to create their products and crafts and earn a fair living at the
same time. Without these co-ops, many of the workers would be
unemployed and would not be able to afford food, education, health care
and housing.
Village International imports
their products from 25 different countries such as India, Kenya, Mexico,
the Philippines, Africa and El Salvador. Examples of such products
include puzzles, stuffed animals, scented and unscented
candles, jewelry, musical instruments, incense, cards, sarongs, masks,
wooden boxes, nativity sets, rice paper lanterns, pottery and soap stones.
In addition, the store supports local artists by selling their art.
