Join Ten by Three’s Heartfelt Mission to Eradicate Poverty and Ignite Hope Through Sustainable Entrepreneurship
Empowering Artisans, Transforming Lives: Your Purchase Weaves Dreams into Reality.
Our Offer
About Ten by Three
At Ten by Three, we passionately believe in the transformative power of craftsmanship to change lives. Our heartfelt mission is to create a world where poverty is a distant memory, and every purchase you make helps us weave this dream into a beautiful reality.
The Founder's Journey
Born to an imprisoned mother, Theresa, our visionary founder, endured unimaginable hardships during her early life in foster care. Subjected to continuous abuse, she suffered "every horror that could happen to a child," bearing unexplained scars that serve as a testament to her resilience. Despite the darkness, there was always an angel who appeared to guide her, urging her to keep going.
One Woman's Courageous Battle Against the Giants of Poverty
Born to an imprisoned mother, Theresa, our visionary founder, endured unimaginable hardships during her early life in foster care. Subjected to continuous abuse, she suffered "every horror that could happen to a child," bearing unexplained scars that serve as a testament to her resilience. Despite the darkness, there was always an angel who appeared to guide her, urging her to keep going.
Years later, life dealt Theresa another devastating blow when her husband of 13 years suddenly abandoned her, leaving her to support their two children alone. In this moment of despair, Theresa's angels emerged once more, showering her with letters and cards filled with love, support, and random acts of kindness. These gestures of compassion slowly helped Theresa restore her faith and ignited a fierce determination within her—a unique drive to give back and help others the way she had been helped.
Deeply moved by her experiences, Theresa established Ten by Three with a resolute mission to uplift the world's poor. Despite facing seemingly insurmountable odds, Theresa refused to back down. Armed with nothing but her unwavering resolve and a single basket, she set out to challenge the giants of poverty and inequality. For the past 20 years, she has tirelessly dedicated herself to this cause, witnessing firsthand the profound difference sustainable entrepreneurship can make in the lives of artisans and their communities.
Breaking the Rules, Changing the Game
When Theresa first set out to tackle poverty, she was told by a Nobel Laureate in Economics that her approach would never work. "That's not how it's done," he insisted. But Theresa knew that the conventional models were failing the very people they were meant to help.
Undeterred, she chose to break every rule in the book. She dared to put money directly into the hands of artisans, trusting them to make the best decisions for their families and communities. She challenged the notion that poverty was an unsolvable problem, and she refused to accept the status quo.
Today, the results speak for themselves. Ten by Three’s unconventional approach has lifted thousands of artisans out of poverty, proving that sometimes, breaking the rules is the only way to create real, lasting change.
Mission and Impact Empowering Dreams:
At Ten by Three, we believe in the power of dreams. For many of the women we work with, the weight of poverty has long constrained their vision, limiting their sight to the immediate needs of the next 24 hours. They could not see past their own hand, raised to their face. But through our partnership, a profound transformation occurs.
Gradual Expansion
As these skilled artisans begin working with Ten by Three, their perspective gradually expands. With each basket sold, with each fair payment received, their hand slowly lowers, and their gaze begins to shift. They start to see to the left, to the right, and eventually, straight ahead. A horizon of possibilities opens up before them.
A New Vision:
After just 9 to 12 months with Ten by Three, these women can see beyond the next 24 hours. They begin to dream of starting a small chicken business, investing in a cow, or expanding their rice paddy field. They see a future where their children are educated, where their families are healthy and thriving. This is the power of empowerment.
Lasting Transformation:
When you empower a woman to dream, she changes fundamentally. She will never go back to the limited vision she once held. Even if Ten by Three were to close its doors today, the women we have worked with, like Leonidi from Madagascar, will forever be changed. They have seen the possibilities that lie beyond the barrier of poverty, and their world has expanded in ways they never thought possible.
Uganda Village
Your Impact
Through your support of Ten by Three, you are not just purchasing a basket. You are investing in the dreams of these remarkable women. You are helping to lift the constraints of poverty and empower them to envision a brighter future for themselves, their families, and their communities. This is the profound, lasting impact of your partnership with Ten by Three.
How It Works: The Ten by Three Model
Our innovative approach to eradicating extreme poverty is rooted in a powerful formula we call the Ten by Three model. This groundbreaking strategy empowers artisans to transform their lives and create lasting change in their communities. Here's how it works:
Empowering Change Through Partnership
These Visionary Companies Stand With Us in the Fight Against Poverty
Ten Products
Ten by Three partners with skilled artisans, primarily basket weavers, who are living in abject poverty. We purchase 10 of their exquisitely crafted baskets, providing them with a substantial and reliable source of income.
Fair Compensation
We believe in the power of fair trade and go above and beyond to ensure our artisans receive the compensation they deserve. Ten by Three pays at least two and a half times the fair-trade price for each basket, directly impacting the artisans' lives and their ability to support their families.
Three Businesses
The real magic happens when the artisans receive payment for their 10 baskets. With this life-changing income, they are required to invest in starting three new businesses of their own. This entrepreneurial approach creates a ripple effect of sustainable economic growth within their communities.
Artisan Story
Meet Ana, a brave soul who once struggled to feed her family. Through Ten by Three’s model, Ana's life has been transformed. With the income from her baskets, she proudly started a small store, a vegetable garden, and a chicken farm. "Thanks to Ten by Three, my children now see a future beyond poverty. They see a world where their dreams can take flight," Ana shares with a beaming smile.
Empowering Artisans
By buying directly from artisans and paying them fair, livable wages, Ten by Three empowers these skilled craftspeople to take control of their own lives and break free from the cycle of poverty. Your purchase is more than just a transaction; it's an investment in the artisan's future, their family, and their community.
Comparison
Unlike many organizations that rely on grants and donations, Ten by Three’s model ensures that 100% of your support goes directly to the artisans. Our transparent approach is our solemn promise to you and to the artisans we serve. With Ten by Three, you can trust that your contribution is making a real, measurable difference in the lives of those who need it most.
The Guild's Endorsement:
"Ten by Three’s commitment to transparency and direct artisan empowerment sets them apart in the fight against poverty. Their model is a shining example of how we can create lasting change, one basket at a time. We are proud to stand with Ten by Three in this mission." - The Guild
The Products
Our baskets are more than just products; they're a testament to the skill, creativity, and resilience of our artisans. Each basket is a unique masterpiece, handcrafted with care and infused with the story of the artisan who made it. By purchasing a Ten by Three basket, you become part of this story, directly contributing to the transformation of lives and communities.
Why Ten by Three? Defying the Odds: How Ten by Three Challenges the Status Quo
In a world where poverty has become big business, Ten by Three stands out as a beacon of integrity and transparency. Traditional methods of poverty alleviation often fall short, with money rarely reaching those who need it most due to corruption and misuse of funds. At Ten by Three, we do things differently.
Addressing Root Causes
Ten by Three understands that true change comes from addressing the root causes of poverty. By empowering mothers to support their families through fair trade and entrepreneurship, we prevent the heartbreaking situations that lead to child exploitation and begging. Our model breaks the cycle of poverty at its source.
Daring to be Different
Ten by Three is not afraid to challenge conventional wisdom. When the traditional models of poverty alleviation failed, we dared to forge a new path. Our innovative approach, rooted in direct artisan empowerment and entrepreneurship, has proven that breaking the rules can lead to transformative results.
Direct Support
We believe in the power of direct, tangible impact. When you purchase a basket from Ten by Three, your money goes straight into the hands of the artisan who crafted it. There are no middlemen, no opportunities for corruption. Just a clear, direct line of support from your heart to the artisan's hands.
Kristy, Ten by Three Artisan Leader from Bangladesh
"Previously, I saw myself as my society thinks — a little girl without wisdom. Now, with the training and support of Ten by Three, I am much more confident and mature. It's a beautiful journey. I am so grateful to all of Ten by Three, especially Teresa, for believing in me. I have a dream that one day there will be no poverty anywhere, and that is my goal."
The Chief of the village in Nyariga, Ghana
"Many NGOs have come and gone without leaving any footprint, but with Ten by Three's interventions, we now have our Craft Center and our school, which are marvelous and everlasting contributions. These are not just projects; they are transformations that have empowered our community, especially our women who now thrive in their local crafts instead of seeking opportunities far from home."
Majada Graduate
"Before Three by Ten, I had no dream. Now, I have a dream that's real. Thanks to Ten by Three, I am really brave, no longer need to weave, and have decided to graduate. To other women: Be honest, patient, and brave. Many things will come to you."
Eco-Friendly Packaging
We use 100% recycled materials. We believe the best gifts should also do good for the planet.
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