Friends Of The Third World Inc

TO ENCOURAGE VOLUNTARY ACTION TO ALLEVIATE POVERTY THRU PARTNERSHIPS WITH LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS, AND TO ENCOURAGE SELF-RELIANCE FOR LOW-INCOME ARTISANS AND FARMERS THROUGH TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LOW INCOME ADULTS WHO PRODUCE HANDICRAFTS OR FOOD. MARKETING IS CONDUCTED BY DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS OR THRU PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS USING FAIR TRADE PRINCIPLES (SEE WWW.FAIRTRADEFEDERATION.ORG) ARTISANS FROM 50 COUNTRIES AS WELL AS 10 STATES, MANAGE COMMUNITY BASED MICRO BUSINESSES, RECEIVING MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE. WE ASSIST IN FINDING MARKETS INCLUDING THOSE IN NONTRADITIONAL VENUES SUCH AS MISSION FESTIVALS. FAMILY FARMERS IN 12 COUNTRIES, AS WELL AS NATIVE AMERICAN FOOD PRODUCERS IN GEORGIA, MINNESOTA,SOUTH DAKOTA, AND COLORADO RECEIVE SIMILAR ASSISTANCE IN REACHING NONTRADITIONAL MARKETS LIKE RELIGIOUS CONGREGATIONS & COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS. A TOTAL OF $56,601 IN PURCHASES DIRECTLY ASSISTED THESE LOW-INCOME PRODUCERS. IN ADDITION, WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE UNEMPLOYED ADULTS IN INDIANA WITH SKILLS TRAINING IN RETAIL SALES, BOOKKEEPING &COMPUTER DATA ENTRY. A TOTAL OF 65,647 WORTH OF VOLUNTEER LABOR WAS DONATED TO THIS PROJECT. ONE PART-TIME STAFF PERSON MANAGED THIS PROJECT. THREE LOCATIONS: THIRD WO0RLD SHOPPE OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, GLOBAL VILLAGE IN PEORIA, ILLINOIS, AND THIRD WORLD HANDARTS IN SIERRA VISTA, ARIZONA HOST VOLUNTEER CHAPTERS. DURING THE 2022 - 2023 YEAR SALES WERE LOWER DUE TO RESTRUCTURING FROM THE COVID19 PANDEMIC.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ABOUT POVERTY AND RELATED SOCIAL CONCERNS TOTALED $8750 IN VOLUNTEER SERVICES. THIS ACTIVITY INCLUDES A BOOK AND RESOURCE STORE HOSTING WORLD MAPS AND 600 OTHER RELATED TOPICS AS WELL AS FULFILLING ORDERS FOR SEVERAL OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION $40,000 WORTH OF VOLUNTEER LABOR WAS PROVIDED TO FULFILL ADMINISTRATIVE AND MANAGEMENT NEEDS.

TECHNICAL AND MICRO-ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE TO PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS THAT ENCOURAGE SELF-RELIANCE FOR LOW-INCOME ADULTS AND FAMILIES. A TOTAL OF $5,500.00 IN VOLUNTEER LABOR WAS ALLOCATED TO THIS EFFORT. PODER JOVEN FOUNDATION IS A CHARITY AIDING HOMELESS YOUTH AND LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA $23,705 VOICE TRUST ASSISTS LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WITH SUSTAINABLE FARMING, EDUCATED ORPHAN CHILDREN & PROVIDES COVID19 RELIEF AND FOOD AID IN TAMIL NADU, INDIA $14,572 & $2,000 OF RELIEF SUPPLIES THRU MENNONITE CENTRAL COMMITTEE TO HELP REFUGEES FROM SYRIA. FOOD ASSISTANCE TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN FORT WAYNE, INDIANA TOTALED $3,000. ($1,000.00 WAS SENT TO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER FORT WAYNE FOR AN AGENCY ENDOWMENT) IN ADDITION, MEMBERSHIPS IN OTHER NONPROFITS TOTALING $5,204 INCLUDE THE FAIR TRADE FEDERATION, WEST CENTRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, COMMUNITY HARVEST FOOD BANK, NAEIR, TECH SOUP, CHICAGO FAIR TRADE, NE INDIANA NONPROFIT ASSOCIATION, U.S. FEDERATION OF WORKER COOPERATIVES, GREEN AMERICA, AND THE FORT WAYNE DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION.

EMPLOYMENT SKILLS TRAINING AND MENTORING OF LOW-INCOME ADULTS. WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF VOLUNTEER PROFESSIONALS, WE MENTOR PEOPLE REFERRED BY LOCAL COURT/PROBATION OFFICES & MENTAL HEALTH OFFICES, IMPACT (FOOD STAMP RECIPIENTS) AND OTHER AGENCIES. WE TEACH BUILDING MAINTENANCE & REPAIR, GRAPHIC ART, DATA ENTRY, BOOKKEEPING AND RETAIL STORE OPERATIONS. WE PROVIDE PARTICIPANTS WITH FREE LUNCH AND OTHER PERSONAL SUPPORTS. IN ADDITION, LABOR IS DONATED TO PROVIDE PRINTING AND MAILING SERVICES FOR 200 NONPROFITS AND CHURCHES. VOLUNTEER LABOR WAS VALUED AT $25,000. THE BUILDING OWNED FOR USE AS OUR HEADQUARTERS IS ALSO USED AS A TRAINING SITE. IN ADDITION, RENTAL HOUSING IS PROVIDED AS TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FOR ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES. ONE PART-TIME STAFF PERSON MANAGED THIS PROJECT.