Ten Thousand Villages Sale in Support of Summits of Change

Winnipeg, MB – On Saturday, October 22nd, Ten Thousand Villages will be partnering with The Salvation Army at their two locations in Winnipeg – 134 Plaza Drive and 963 Henderson Highway.  With presentation of a Summits of Change coupon, 15% of your purchase will be donated to The Salvation Army Summits of Change.  This is your chance to purchase Fairly Traded and unique gifts from over 30 developing countries while supporting Summits of Change and Ten Thousand Villages artisans.

Gwen Repeta, manager of Ten Thousand Villages states, “Summits of Change aims to provide a safe place for women where they can learn skills similar to what the Mennonite Central Committee’s Pobitra program in Bangladesh provides.  Victims of Bangladesh’s sex trade industry take part in an eight-month vocational training program that also educates them about health and hygiene, mental health, human rights, peace and literacy.  Partnering with The Salvation Army to help support Summits of Change is a natural fit for us.  The Salvation Army Summits of Change and the Mennonite Central Committee’s Pobitra program both work to connect people and communities, giving hope and meeting needs.”

Summits of Change is a project initiated by World Financial Group to raise money to support The Salvation Army in providing a safe place for vulnerable women transitioning back into society.  More information about this initiative can be found at www.summitsofchange.ca.

The mission of Ten Thousand Villages is to create opportunities for artisans in developing countries to earn income by bringing their products and stories to it’s markets through long-term fair trading relationships.  Bangladesh’s Pobitra program provides survivors of sex trade the opportunity for rebirth.  Pobitra means ‘holiness, sanctity, the fresh cleanliness of a newborn.”  Upon graduation from the Pobitra program, participants are given a blue sari to symbolize their rebirth.  More information about Ten Thousand Villages and the Pobitra program can be found at www.tenthousandvillages.ca and www.mcc.org.

For more information about this partnership in support of Summits of Changes, or to request your coupon, please call Tsungai at (204) 975-1008.