An organization that supports artisans around the world and recently opened a storefront downtown is holding a community shopping event this week that also will benefit a longstanding local nonprofit composed of civic-minded New Canaan women.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, 15 percent of sales at Ten Thousand Villages—located since Nov. 8 on the corner of Main Street and East Avenue, just above Forest Street—will go to the Young Women’s League of New Canaan, store manager Shawn Webb said.
Ten Thousand Villages is itself a nonprofit organization and founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization that purchases handmade gifts from artisans in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.
Shawn Webb, store manager at Ten Thousand Villages' New Canaan location, holds a handcrafted Vietnam serving platter created by a female artisan. These types of items represent the majority of gifts available in the shop, Webb said. Credit: Michael Dinan
Asked about the synergy between his organization and the Young Women’s League of New Canaan, Webb said, “Many of our artisans are women, probably about 80 percent of the merchandise you see in the store is made by women.”
“This actually is International Women’s Month and the 8th, the day after our event, is International Women’s Day,” he continued. “It’s a celebration of women’s employment throughout the world. Our organization is fair trade and helps women in developing nations live better lives. They’re sending their daughters to college for the first time in many places.”
The Young Women’s League of New Canaan was founded in 1973 and has worked with more than 150 Fairfield County charitable organizations, donating thousands of volunteer hours to the community.
“To date, the YWL has raised over $3,000,000, which is given in the form of charitable grants distributed to over 150 local and regional organizations,” the organization’s website says.