Jessie Hess and Ten Thousand Villages

“I was placed in a rural village in eastern Zambia. I was given a mud hut with a thatch roof to

live in with no electricity or running water. Millions of people around the world live this way so

it was good to be completely immersed in another culture and way of living,” Jessie Hess, Ten Thousand Villages (TTV) Outreach Coordinator says as she remembers her experiences working with the Peace Corps. Hess, a Virginia Tech Environmental Science major, traveled with the Peace Corps in Zambia through their agriculture program where she worked with sustainable agriculture and forestry.

“It is an experience that will stick with me for the rest of my life. It was definitely hard to see and share the struggles of the people in my village. They make do with so little. During the dry season there would often not be enough food to go around,” Hess stated. That didn’t stop the new faces she encountered from sharing everything they had.

“I will never forget the hospitality and smiles my host family gave me. They treated me like part of their family and I made some really good friends,” Hess added while remembering her

experiences. Hess carried the experiences she endured and the faces she met with her all the way back to her hometown; Harrisonburg, VA.

Hess now finds herself working every Wednesday since April of 2015 in the Harrisonburg

non-profit organization store; TTV. Although Hess works at one location, her help extends

globally. TTV is an extensive organization in which helps international artisans share their art and make a profit from it. This organization has helped Hess build her life around helping others, from spending time in Zambia for the Peace Corps program, to working in her own community.

“There are so many good, talented people that are born with few opportunities and advantages, so it's great to be able to work for a nonprofit that seeks out disadvantaged artisans to give them the means to earn a fair living wage,” Hess explained. TTV works endlessly to help others internationally and Hess’s hard work never goes unnoticed by those around her.

“Jessie is passionate and caring. She is globally aware and helps others,” Kara Miller stated,

Manager of the Harrisonburg TTV. Miller started working at TTV in August of 2011, she described Hess as a creative mind with a laid back personality.

“She is willing to take on any project and she makes sure she can accomplish what you ask,”

Miller continued, “she has a good work ethic.”

Yet, Hess’s work ethic does not end in one store. She filters her passion for helping others by

spending her time to organize various fundraisers with TTV, furthering the company’s presence in the nonprofit world.

Every spring at their home office in Akron, PA, Hess, along with all of the workers and

volunteers bring in hundreds of handmade knotted rugs from Pakistan. The rugs are expensive, but it takes a years-worth of hard work to make each one.

“They are works of art and I like watching a lot of them get purchased because I know it's a big life changer for the people in Pakistan,” Hess explained. At the rug event, representatives from Pakistan come and share their stories and expertise about their hand knotted rugs.

“One of the men who comes to our events shares stories of growing up in Pakistan and learning how to knot rugs. He has told us that the sales of these rugs have brought huge changes to the villages they come from like new schools, electricity, and development for everyone in the community,” Hess continued, “the talent of the artisans is incredible. Their rugs are truly works of art.” During these events, Hess is able to do what she loves to do most, “I love being able to immerse myself in other people's lives so it's really cool that it can be reflected through the store,” Hess explained.

The rug event is usually the most memorable time of the year for Hess, or working during the

holiday season. During this time, customers come in looking for unique gifts and are able to buy handmade gifts that help the international artisans through fair trade.

The experiences Hess has endured throughout her life have shaped her into the worker she is today. She gives back to those in need. Working in Zambia has allowed her to open her eyes to countless aspects of life that most people take for granted.

“It's great to be able to work for a nonprofit that seeks out disadvantaged artisans to give them the means to earn a fair living wage,” Hess explained. She continues to show her passion for helping others through her work ethic and the love she has for other cultures. She dedicates herself to the betterment of the less fortunate by allowing them to earn well-deserved profit off their hard work, giving them the means to provide for themselves.

Jessie Hess- Ten Thousand Villages Harrisonburg Outreach Coordinator- Phone: 540-421-9087 Email: ​outreach.harrisonburg@tenthousandvillages.com

Kara Miller- Ten Thousand Villages Harrisonburg Manager Email: ​harrisonburg@tenthousandvillages.com