In Mongolia’s capital city of Ulaanbaatar, those struck by poverty seek shelter in the city’s heating and water systems below the streets. They emerge occasionally to pick through garbage heaps above for food, and some will scavenge for plastic or glass to sell to scrape a meal together. Mary and Martha Mongolia formed to offer relief to the poor by providing them with a place to live and a chance to learn marketable trade skills. The pioneering organisation trains these people to create handicrafts based on traditional materials and techniques which they can then sell to support themselves and their families. Each purchase allows this work to continue, bringing renewed dignity and hope to the poor.

Benin: New hope for the vulnerable and isolated

Benin, West Africa, is a land rich in natural beauty, but it is sadly also one of the world’s poorest nations....

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Guinea: Building infrastructure and skills

Since governmental structures in Guinea finally stabilised about fifteen years ago, the country’s economy has gradually improved. However, refugees fleeing civil...

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Malawi: Looking up and forward

Malawi is a country working hard to lift its people out of its challenging history.  Since gaining independence nearly sixty years...

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Cameroon: Empowering and rebuilding

Crossroads’ partner for this shipment originally began their work in a busy market town, aiming to provide support for widows, a...

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These items were made by rural craftspeople in Duyen Thai, a picturesque Vietnamese village south of Hanoi. The area is well-known for its wide range of lacquerware products and people of Duyen Thai have been engaged in the industry for many years.

Au Lac Designs works in Vietnam as a fair trade organisation, helping traditional craft producers such as those from Duyen Thai develop their small businesses and create sustainable development for the rural poor.

Your purchase of Au Lac Designs products supports Vietnamese craftspeople and their families.

Benin: New hope for the vulnerable and isolated

Benin, West Africa, is a land rich in natural beauty, but it is sadly also one of the world’s poorest nations....

read more ...

Guinea: Building infrastructure and skills

Since governmental structures in Guinea finally stabilised about fifteen years ago, the country’s economy has gradually improved. However, refugees fleeing civil...

read more ...

Malawi: Looking up and forward

Malawi is a country working hard to lift its people out of its challenging history.  Since gaining independence nearly sixty years...

read more ...

Cameroon: Empowering and rebuilding

Crossroads’ partner for this shipment originally began their work in a busy market town, aiming to provide support for widows, a...

read more ...