2014

TVI/ Annual/Report/

2014 was a year of AMAZING GROWTH at Thai Village. We increased the numbers of our managers and artisans and made some beautiful products that were sold across Thailand, America, and Australia. We even started online sales! Through the sale of these handmade goods, Thai Village was able to support over 40 people in skills training workshops and over 100 people with financial support. As we sell handmade crafts, we remember that it’s not just about the end products, but it's about the process of working alongside people in Northern Thailand, where we focus on sharing God’s love and pouring it into the lives of local people. This past year we addressed physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of our managers and artisans. PHYSICALLY empowering people through skills trainings and income generation projects; SPIRITUALLY encouraging, praying for, and sharing the Good News with each artisan that walked through our doors; EMO-TIONALLY caring about every part of their lives and meeting them where they were, whether that be in homes, hospitals, prisons, orphanages, or at funerals, weddings, or other significant events in their lives. We LOVE our artisans and we seek to empower people, people who are uniquely made with so many abilities and talents but for some reason or other have not had the opportunity to thrive. Facilitating skills trainings, providing income generation projects, and loving them is how we do this! We hope that reading this report helps you to get a better idea of the current issues, strug-gles, and joys of the people we work with in Thailand and encour-ages you to know that God’s hand is active and working here in the midst of Thai Village. God bless you all,Liz Meister Thailand DirectorThai Village, Inc.

66/

15/44/

Individual artisans impacted

People trained

Unique skills Trainings

Extra community groups of village artisans impacted06/

67/ Community fellowship meals provided

Impact this Year

\02\07\11\47

\04

\05Special sales in Thailand

Shops in Thailand carried TVI products

Volunteers in Thailand

Shops in USA carried TVI products

Venues in Australia carried TVI products

Special Sales in the US

In June 2014, a class of Hmong pastors graduated from the WELS Thailand Seminary in Chiang Rai. During this graduation celebration, Thai Village managers met with leaders from the congregations represented to explore partnering in grassroots outreach through income gen-eration projects. Pastors presented cross stitching work from Thai Village to women from their congregations, and 3 village women’s groups from congregations across Chiang Rai province and Phayao province began stitching projects. Using culturally traditional patterns and cross stitching techniques familiar to these Hmong groups, the women are able to earn extra income while remaining connected to the local church in their home villages.

Village Church-Based Community Outreach

Training &Income Generation Projects

For one of the many vocational trainings conducted throughout the year, the Thai Village team traveled to the Northeast region of Thailand to meet a re-mote producer group. These women are contacts of Mhee, a TVI artisan who organized this training in partnership with TVI and local church staff in a desire to reach out to the people of his village with the Gospel. 19 women joined in an all-day intensive quilting seminar taught by Thai Village managers Pring and Nuut. Beyond skills training, the outreach team also shared encouragement and prayed for those who were interested.

These women, who work mainly in their local mar-ket as shopkeepers or as farmers, were interested in developing their hand stitching and sewing skills and earning much needed extra income. Each one was able to learn the basic quilting skills and take income generating orders home to finish. These intricate cathedral quilt squares made from recy-cled fabric scraps provide not only ongoing work for these women but beautiful handmade accents on new Thai Village products.

Part of the joy of partnering with Promise Church and jointly sharing a facility means Thai Village is blessed with a network of outstanding staff. Sharp minded and servant hearted, Wang is one of those staff, a faithful evangelist and worship leader at Promise Church. This year Wang began balancing studying at university as well, bringing a long-time dream of his to reality. Wang regularly leads Bible studies for the weekly TVI Friday community craft day as well as many other TVI outreach activities through-out the year. Thai Village is proud to support Wang as a godly man serving his church.

Church LeaderSupport Program

Artisan Community OutreachProjects

Many people we meet in Thailand have been creating and making handmade work since the time they were young. Children grow up learn-ing precious traditional designs and art forms that are at risk of being devalued by global-ization and modernity. Bay is a young mother whose entire family has been weaving since the time she can remember. Originally from a Karen village in Chiang Rai province, Bay moved to the city with her husband to work full-time to pro-vide for her family. In the evenings, she spins and weaves colorful modern scarves in traditional Karen-tribe patterns on her wooden loom. Since her scarves have been well received, she is able to share her orders with her mother and sister in their village and increase the financial impact she is having on her family. Each time Bay brings her scarves to Thai Village, she expresses her genu-ine thankfulness to us for providing a market for her handiwork that appreciates and values both her culture and her work.

Bookmarks TrainingCustomized run award at Run for Relief Chi-ang MaiHost Leah and Michael from Artisan’s Village

Displays02/15 - Run for Relief, Huey Tung Tao, Chiang Mai, Thailand02/9-12 - Mt. Zion Lu-theran Church, Ripon, WI 02/11 - Grace Lutheran Church, Oshkosh, WI 02/27, 3/1- 2 - St. Paul Luth. Bible Class, Lenten Dinner, Worship, Port Orchard, WA

MarchHired new full-time seamstress: Suey Matched Saving’s Pro-gram SeminarQuilting Training

Displays03/15 - Pathways to Christ Retreat, Haw-thorn Inn, Oshkosh, WI03/16 - Peace Luther-

JanuaryNew Volunteer: Shel-ley MacDonaldRecycled T-Shirt Scarves TrainingHost Thai-Aussie Team at Thai VillageHire new Jewelry Manager: KonPolymer Clay Jewel-ry TrainingSilversmithing Train-ing

Displays01/5– Thai Aussie Team Presentation and Display, Promise Luth Church, Chiang Mai01/30 – Empower Aussie Team, Prom-ise Luth Church, Chiang Mai, Thailand

February New Volunteers: James and GenmarTVI Staff Vision Meeting

an Church Coffee Hour Display, Arroyo Grande, CA03/28-30 - Christian Women Today Retreat, Traverse City, MI03/29 - WELS Nursing Conference, WLC, Milwaukee, WI

April Noah’s Ark Training

Displays4/ 8 - Spring LWMS Rally, Mosinee, WI

May Woven Loom Bracelet TrainingPainted Cards TrainingJoined Seminary Grad-uation in Chiang Rai, Distributed Stitching Projects

Displays05/3 – Monroe Lend-ing Library, Monroe, OH5/20: Friedens Luther-an Church, Randolph, WI

June Nativity Set Training

Host Garuna Founda-tion TeamNew Volunteer: Ruth StefaniukHost Thai-Aussie Team at Thai VillageHospital Visitation of Artisan – Suey’s DaughterHand Sewing Training

Displays06/1 – Bible Class, Fairview Luth. Church, Milwaukee, WI06/8 – Beautiful Savior Luth. Church – Cincinnati, OH06/13-14 – Mountain of the Lord Luth. Church Display & Wausau Rummage Sales, Wausau, WI06/25-28 - WELS International Youth Rally, Univ. of TN, Knoxville, TN06/26-29 - LWMS National Convention, Dallas, TX06/23 – Thai Aussie Team Presentation and Display, Promise Luth Church, Chiang Mai

A Look at 2014

JulyWebsite Launches for Online Sales

Displays07/12 - WLC Art & Craft Fair, Milwaukee, WI07/22-25 – WELS Worship Conference, Kenosha, WI07/27 – Grace Luth. Church, Pickett, WI & Zion Luth. Church, Oshkosh, WI

AugustHired new full-time seamstress - PloyImpact Assessment Training

Displays08/2 - Blues Festival, Lebanon,OH08/3 – Grace Lutheran Church, Falls Church/Arlington, VA 08/4 – Thailand Presen-tation, Promise Luth Church, Chiang Mai, Thailand08/3-12 – OWLS Group & Church Displays, St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, Beaver Dam, WI 08/10 – Zion Lutheran Church, South Milwau-kee, WI08/10 – St. James

Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, WI08/17 – Atonement Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, WI08/23-24 – WEW Women’s Retreat, Salem Luth. Church, Stillwater, MN

SeptemberNew Volunteer: Lauren BoyceThai Village Staff Retreat

OctoberSewing TrainingVisit and Partner with Baan Phum Jai Ministry

Displays10/ 5 – Mission Sunday, Bethany Lutheran Church, Hustisford, WI 10/1 – LWMS Fall Rally, Appleton, WI 10/11 – LWMS Fall Rally, Abiding Word, Maineville, OH 10/11 – Thai Craft Fair, Bangkok, Thai-land 10/11 – Chiang Mai Women’s Retreat, Chiang Mai, Thailand 10/18-26 - LWMS Fall Circuit Rally, Amaz-ing Grace Lutheran Church, Panama City, FL

10/24-25 – TCWR Retreat, Kalama-zoo, MI 10/19 & 26 – Ref-ormation Lutheran Church, Genesee Depot/Dousman 10/30-31 – State Teacher’s Con-ference, Wis. Luth. High School, Mil-waukee, WI

NovemberHired Jewelry Man-ager – MaySilver jewelry TrainingWire bracelets TrainingEarly Bird Event in Chiang MaiVisit Artisan home in Lampang - EetWoven Loom Bracelet Training

Displays11/1-10 – Apostles Lutheran Church, Billings, Montana 11/ 9 or 16 – Open House, Middletown, OH 11/ 7 - 16 – Pilgrim Lutheran Church, WA 11/ 9 & 16 – Mt. Olive Luth. Church, Appleton, WI 11/ 15 – Thai Craft Fair, Bangkok, Thailand11/20 – Early Bird Sale, Promise Luth Church, Chiang Mai, Thailand

11/22 – Thai Craft Fair, Bangkok, Thailand11/ 22 – Oklahoma Crafts Fair, Stillwater, Oklahoma 11/23 – Pattaya Sale, Pattaya, Thailand11/29 – Thai Craft Fair, Bangkok, Thailand 11/30 – Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Cin-cinnati, OH 11/30 – Good Shep-herd, Beaver Dam, WI

DecemberSilver wax thread bracelet TrainingArtisan Appreciation Christmas PartyVisit Artisan home on Thai-Burma border – Suey and Suey

Displays12/ 3-5 – Middletown Middle School, Middle-town, OH 12/6 – Gloria Dei Craft Fair, Fort Mitchell, KY December - Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel12/6 December - Presbyterian Church, Allentown PA 12/ 6 – Thai Craft Fair, Bangkok, Thailand 12/7 – Advent Tea, Da-vid’s Star Luth. Church, Jackson, WI 12/7 – Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Cin-cinnati, OH12/12 – Good Shep-herd, Beaver Dam, WI12/13-Thai Craft Fair, Bangkok, Thailand12/18 – First Lutheran School, Lacrosse, WI

Skills Training

Recycled T-shirt Scarves

Silver Jewelry

Fimo Clay Jewelry

Bookmarks

Quilting

Noahs Ark

Woven Loom BraceletsPainted Cards

Silver Smithing

Silver Wax Thread Bracelet

Sewing

Wire Bracelets

Hand Stitching

Bookmarks

Participants’ Education level: Primary school – Bachelor’s degree

Average monthly income: 8,000B per month ($250/month), 96,000B per year ($3,000/year)

Average % of annual salary saved: 12.8%

Participants used the savings money to:Pay off debt, save for future, emergency savings fund, pay for education, buy a motorcycle, build a house

Participants Reported Gaining:Patience, habit of saving, practice in savings, principles of saving, knowledge, friends

One participant opened his first bank account ever with this program.

“Through this program I learned how to help myself when I get in a toughfinancial situation.” Ma

tched

Savin

gs Pr

ogram

New Products

New Products

BarbWarehouse Distributor BarryTreasurer of the Board

JadeTranslation, HR, Building Manager

JoyceVice President of the Board

KatieProduction ManagerOrder Fulfillment

PhongTin smithing teamPrototype Team

JanePresident of the Board

LizThailand DirectorMarKeting Director

WangChurch Evangelist Liason

NancyUSA Director &Distributor

MayJewelry & Tin ManagerMheeRegional Manager Tin Smithing Team

MikeHead PackagerNoraDesign & Packaging Team, Sourcing Manager

NuutSpecial Design Manager

PringSewing, Stitching and Leather Manager

SaraBookkeeperSudkaetDesigner, Skills Trainer

Suey Head Seamstress Taeng Leather Smithing and Packaging

TVI Thailand

TVI USA

Artisan Feature: May

With a growing number of artisans coming to Thai Village in need of work has grown the need for more local managers who share Thai Village’s vision to be able to train, oversee and impact these artisans. Our new manager of jewelry production, May, has been a natural fit and able to do that quite well. May is a Karen woman with many years of experience mak-ing handmade crafts; but perhaps more valuable than her ability to create products is her ability to relate to other artisans and make them feel at ease. When

May first moved from her village to the city to find a job with her husband, she found a job as a housekeeper of what she thought was a hotel. It turned out, she was employed by a brothel. Throughout the years of house-keeping while her husband worked as a guard at the same location, May encountered many young women and girls who were unaware of what their new place of work required of them. She often shared the hope of Christ with women in her midst who felt hopeless and depressed, yet she felt not at peace with her job and raising her daughter in that environment. Now working full time with Thai Village, May has grown into her role as a manager and mentor for several other younger artisans and staff. As she shares her life and her story, she points to God’s provision for her in times of hardship and His unfailing love for His children, gently encouraging others to look to Him as well.

FULFILLING A NEED:People continue to flow into our Chiang Mai-based facil-ity seeking training, work, and most of all hope! Over the next few years we are looking to focus on pouring God’s love into the lives of local people in Northern Thailand, reaching out to groups in need through handicraft proj-ects and income generation opportunities, and following up with them in personal and impactful ways. We are excited that Thai Village is able to respond to real and important needs in the lives of our artisans. GROWING IN NUMBERS:We are literally bursting at the seams! Our building hosts numerous groups of people throughout the week with multiple activities occurring simultaneously: skills train-ings, English classes, counseling, worshiping, designing, producing, packaging, community meals, Bible studies-The list goes on! We are praying for God to provide a larger facility that will help us handle this capacity. FOCUSING ON HELPING OTHERS:Over the last few years we have been focused on build-ing up our local Thai managerial team. They have grown in their ability to manage the work while being sensitive to the unique situations and needs of the artisans, all the while reaching out to them with God’s love. This year we

Looking forward: How you can help

are turning our focus more outward, onto the individual artisans who come from many villages, as we begin visitation and follow-up programs and implement means to measure impact. HOW CAN YOU HELP?Host a display! Purchase some products! Become a regular donor! Pray for Thai Village! These are the things that will allow us to keep giving more work to more people and share the hope we have along the way. SEEKING DISPLAY HOSTS:Thai Village is able to reach out to people in need in North-ern Thailand because God continues to provide volunteers to host craft displays throughout the year. Steady product sales give jobs, stability, and Christian community to the people we are working with in Thailand. In fact 75% of funding for Thai Village programs comes from product sales at craft displays. SEEKING FUNDING:All donations to Thai Village are tax exempt and can be made online at www.thaivillage.org, matched through Thrivent Gift Multiplier, or made by check payable to “Thai Village, Inc” and sent to P.O. Box 132, Deerfield, WI 53531

Thai Village IncPO Box 132Deerfield, WI 53531 - 0132 USAwww.thaivillage.orginfo@thaivillage.org