Ten Thousand Villages Canada and Habitat for Humanity Canada have joined forces for a year-long partnership to raise funds and awareness.

Through a series of in-store events and on-line promotions, the two non-profit organizations will work to raise support for the human right to decent, affordable housing and for fair trade relationships around the world.

鈥淭he partnership is a perfect fit,鈥� said Olga Nickel, who manages the Ten Thousand Villages store at 20523 Fraser Hwy.

Closely aligned by their missions and strong volunteer bases, the two charities are both volunteer driven and dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty, Nickel said.

鈥淏y combining forces, lives in Canada and around the wold will be transformed,鈥� she said.

Homes built by Habitat for Humanity provide security and so do purchases at Ten Thousand Villages, Nickel said.

Her charity supports fair trade farmers and workers. 鈥淎rtisans can plan for the future, secure in the knowledge of reliable income paid in advance, as well as the assurance of safe working conditions,鈥� she said.

Similarly, homes built by HHC provide security for the less fortunate.

The partnership began on March 14 with Everybody Needs a Home campaign in which $10 from the sale of each Habitat promotion birdhouse was donated to HHC.

In the upcoming donation coupon campaign, which runs from April 25 to May 8, 20 per cent of all purchases made at Ten Thousand Villages Canada, using the fundraiser coupons or by mentioning the HHC fundraiser, will go to HHC鈥檚 local initiatives.

Coupons and information will be available on the organizations鈥� websites and Facebook pages

The partnership culminates in the fall with the Home Is Where the Heart is campaign in which $1 from the sale of special edition 鈥楬ome/Maison鈥� stone will be donated to HHC.  Skillfully crafted by Indian artisans, these palm-sized, heart-shaped stones are good reminders of the importance of house and home, and of fair trade.

Ten Thousand Villages is the oldest and largest fair trade organization in North America. Through a network of forty-eight stores, as well as through hundreds of festival sales and E-shopping, the chain sells artisan-crafted personal accessories, home decor and gift items from around the world.

The 91原创 story of Ten Thousand Villages opened in 2003 and is run by 28 volunteers.

Run by the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), the relief and development agency of Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches in North America, Ten Thousand Villages has its roots in the work begun by Edna Ruth Byler in 1946.

Habitat for Humanity has built, rehabilitated, repaired or improved more than 400,000 houses worldwide, providing shelter for more than two million people since it was founded in 1976.