our history
2002
Liz visited Hmong Village 9 in Tak province with her parents, WELS Missionaries Rob and Nora, and bought a strip of Hmong embroidery
2003
Using the Hmong embroidery strips from Village 9, WELS Bible Institute students made the first Hmong coin purse for supplementary income
2004
Began a work-study program with Bible students who worked on craft projects 2 days a week with tin-smithing and jewelry-making training through Kingdom Worker program funding- First craft display and sale out of the trunk of the car
2006
First Bible students complete sewing certification program2007
The Village 9 embroidery program grows into a robust craft outreach in partnership with the local church leaders2008
Thai Village officially receives status as a non-profit organization in the US, continuing to support Bible students in Thailand2009
As a result of the 2008 economic crash, WELS Bible Institute was closed and Thai Village grew into a full-time project for former students and community members2010
Friday community workday became a regular tradition that continues to this day2011
First wholesale order from Empower International in Australia2012
Hired first full-time seamstress, Pring; Hired Nuut as a designer- First Fair Trade Show in Seattle, Washington, and 55 other locations
- Matched savings program and financial stewardship seminars began
2013
Began training many new part-time artisans in Thai Village signature products like boxed nativity sets and embroidered Christmas baubles2014
Online sales began out of Jung’s warehouse in Randolph, WI2016
Home visit program started in artisan communities2020
First relief program established for families of those affected by COVID-19 including feeding 698 families with food packets throughout the year
Began a work-study program with Bible students who worked on craft projects 2 days a week with tin-smithing and jewelry-making training through Kingdom Worker program funding
First craft display and sale out of the trunk of the car
First Bible students complete sewing certification program
The Village 9 embroidery program grows into a robust craft outreach in partnership with the local church leaders
Thai Village officially receives status as a non-profit organization in the US, continuing to support Bible students in Thailand
As a result of the 2008 economic crash, WELS Bible Institute was closed and Thai Village grew into a full-time project for former students and community members
Friday community workday became a regular tradition that continues to this day
First wholesale order from Empower International in Australia
Hired first full-time seamstress, Pring; Hired Nuut as a designer
First Fair Trade Show in Seattle, Washington, and 55 other locations
Matched savings program and financial stewardship seminars began
Began training many new part-time artisans in Thai Village signature products like boxed nativity sets and embroidered Christmas baubles
Online sales began out of Jung’s warehouse in Randolph, WI
Home visit program started in artisan communities
First relief program established for families of those affected by COVID-19 including feeding 698 families with food packets throughout the year
Artisans attend a financial stewardship and planning seminar annually, learn saving and budgeting techniques, and open a joint savings account with a Thai Village administrator. They are free to save as much money each month as they would like. Thai Village matches up to a certain amount each month. Through this program, many artisans have been able to create financial goals and save successfully to meet their goals with increasing financial independence.
