The most talked about gift you give this year could be a sand dam and a dragonfly.
This year, the annual Living Gift festival at Ten Thousand Villages pairs development projects with Fair Trade handicrafts so that gift givers can make twice the difference.
In one pairing, $40 will purchase four bags of cement to help build a sand dam in Tanzania, providing clean and accessible water while developing local ecosystems, preventing erosion, decreasing water-borne diseases and increasing school attendance for children.
An additional $6 will purchase a playful Fair Trade dragonfly, made in Thailand from recycled newspaper.
Ten Thousand Villages has partnered with the Mennonite Central Committee on Living Gifts since 2003, raising more than $5 million in donations.
Customers have not only given very special gifts to recipients, but have also had a huge impact on the lives of countless people around the world.
Living Gifts support projects that help build long term sustainability by providing education, food, clean water and new opportunities.
This year’s projects range in price from $24 to $350, making them an excellent choice as group, teacher or individual gifts.
Gifts are available from Saturday, Nov. 5, until Saturday, Dec. 31 at all Ten Thousand Villages in Canada.
The Langley location is at 20525 Fraser Highway.