WHOLE FOODS MARKET®
TEAM MEMBER VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
2014 THAILAND SUMMARY & IMPACT REPORT
WHOLE FOODS MARKET®
TEAM MEMBER VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
Whole Planet Foundation® (WPF) funds microlending
Through the WFM Team Member Volunteer Program,
programs in Thailand where Alter Eco sources rice
WFM gives Team Members the unique opportunity to
which is sold in Whole Foods Market® (WFM) stores.
travel abroad with WPF to learn about WPF and meet
WPF is a WFM non-profit whose mission is to alleviate
microcredit clients, see where and how WFM products
poverty by funding microlending programs where WFM
are grown, provide community service, experience and
sources products as a way to alleviate poverty and
learn from other cultures and challenge themselves by
give back to our global communities.
exploring exciting countries around the globe.
WPF microlending
partner Small Enterprise
Development and WFM
supplier partner Alter Eco
in Surin
Trip 2
Community service with
Elephant Nature Park
and sightseeing
in Chiang Mai
Arrival, departure
and sightseeing
in Bangkok
WFM TEAM MEMBER VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
TRAVEL IN THAILAND
2014 THAILAND SUMMARY
11 Whole Foods Market® Team Member Volunteers traveled to Thailand to volunteer at the Elephant
Nature Park. They cared for the elephants by washing, feeding and cleaning up after them.
They traveled to Surin by overnight train where they learned about the production of rice with Alter Eco
whose products are sold in Whole Foods Market stores. Team Members visited with microcredit
clients of Small Enterprise Development. The volunteers visited cultural sites in Bangkok and Chiang
Mai and learned about Thai cuisine, culture, traditions and dance.
TEAM
GROUP COORDINATOR
August 18- September 1, 2014
Jeremy Bookman
Buck Buckles (Florida, Biscayne store)
Glenda Flanagan (Global Office)
Rachel Landers (Global Office)
THAILAND GUIDES
Mr. Weerapang Tananchana (Noi)
Daniel Zoltani
Leslie Alves (Global Office)
Jack Colwell (Northern California, Castro store)
PROJECT COORDINATOR
Cheryl Sadlowski (Northeast ,Tribeca store)
Elephant Nature Park
Shawna Jacques (Pacific Northwest, Cambie store)
Joshua T. Outwater (Rocky Mountain, Fort Collins store)
Danna Haile (South, Green Hills store)
Gillian Campbell (United Kingdom, Giffnock store)
Julian Ligas (Global Office)
Small Enterprise Development
WFM TEAM MEMBER
VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
MANAGER
Genie Bolduc
2014 THAILAND ITINERARY
AUGUST 18-SEPTEMBER 1
ITINERARY- 2 WEEKS
Day 1, Monday, August 18 - Arrive Bangkok
Day 2, Tuesday, August 19 - Bangkok tour, overnight train to Surin
Day 3, Wednesday, August 20 - Surin to visit Alter Eco
Day 4, Thursday, August 21 - Surin for visit with WPF microlending partner Small Enterprise Development, overnight in
Ubon Ratchatani
Day 5, Friday, August 22 - Fly to Chiang Mai
Day 6, Saturday, August 23 - Chiang Mai sightseeing
Day 7, Sunday, August 24 - Chiang Mai day trek to Chiang Dao
Day 8, Monday, August 25 - Volunteer at Elephant Nature Park
Day 9, Tuesday, August 26 - Volunteer at Elephant Nature Park
Day 10 / Wednesday, August 27 - Volunteer at Elephant Nature Park
Day 11, Thursday, August 28 - Volunteer at Elephant Nature Park
Day 12, Friday, August 29 - Volunteer at Elephant Nature Park
Day 13, Saturday, August 30 - Volunteer at Elephant Nature Park
Day 14, Sunday, August 31 - Return to Chiang Mai and dinner with Tristan Lecomte, co-founder of Alter Eco
Day 15, Monday, September 1 - Chiang Mai depart for home
Small Enterprise Development
Meeting microcredit clients
THE EXPERIENCE
Recovering lost luggage
Seeing elephants
Sightseeing
Learning about rice
Eating delicious Thai food
Planting rice
FOOD
Team Members were
treated to some of the best
food, experiencing all kinds
of delicious Thai delicacies.
The fruit was varied and
fresh and was hanging in
the trees. Thai people eat
some of the same foods for
breakfast as lunch and
dinner, including rice or
noodles.
CULTURE
In Bangkok and Chiang Mai,
Team Members went on
sightseeing tours to absorb
Thai culture, visiting Thai
temples such as Wat Po,
the home of The Reclining
Buddha, the oldest Buddhist
Temple and the center of
the Buddhist religion. The
volunteers also visited Wat
Phra Kaew, which houses
the Emerald Buddha. Other
sights seen were Doi Sutep,
Warowat market and Wat
Phra Singh temple.
LOCAL
TRADITION
Team Member volunteers
participated in traditional
ceremonies including the
opening and closing
ceremonies at Elephant
Nature Park pictured here.
Thai massage was readily
available and often enjoyed.
Small Enterprise Development
WHOLE PLANET FOUNDATION MICROCREDIT PARTNER
SMALL ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT
93.25%
15,983
95.03%
FEMALE
CLIENTS
WPF SUPPORTED
CLIENTS AS OF 9/30/2014
REPAYMENT
RATE
History:
village banking services after completing the long sought after strategy of
In 1988, Small Enterprise Development Project was established to support
implementing a partner foundation to assist in village bank development.
the development of a microfinance system in Surin, Thailand and provide
SED employs the village banking (VB) model to deliver their microfinance
assistance to rural poor women in the creation of village banks within their
services.
communities.
The VB group is a support group who meet monthly to provide themselves
In 1996, the SED Project was transformed into the Small Enterprise
with three essential services:
•
Development Company, Ltd.( SED), a social enterprise to support the
Small self-employment loans to start or expand their own
businesses
development of a microfinance system in Thailand and to provide
assistance to rural poor women in the creation of village banks within their
•
An incentive to save, and a means of accumulating savings
communities.
•
A community-based system that provides mutual support and
encourages personal empowerment.
In 2012, SED Company founded the SED Foundation to, among other
things, assist SED the company in the non financial services and trainings
Village Banking groups represent grassroots democracy in action;
offered.
members elect their own leaders, design their own bylaws, keep the books,
SED’s vision is to alleviate poverty of low-income and poor families of
manage the funds, and are responsible for loan supervision, including
Thailand and empower women through a sustainable poverty lending
enforcing penalties for non-compliance.
program. The objectives of the village bank program are:
The Grameen Method and Village Banking have similarities but differ
•
To alleviate poverty through credit services
primarily on the roles and responsibilities of the center or the village bank.
•
To establish village banks that build savings in the community
The committee of the village bank has far greater responsibilities and is
•
To build a sustainable program
heavily involved in the credit process. The tight control and constant
supervision in the Grameen Method is, in part, transferred to the group
Whole Planet Foundation Partnership:
WPF entered into its first Program Related Investment (PRD), 0% interest
local currency loan with Small Enterprise Development (SED) in February
of 2009 for $562,500.
In 2013, Small Enterprise Development Foundation (SEDF) was officially
approved for its registration by the Surin Provincial Administration. In June
2014, WPF assigned the previous three promissory notes totaling $562,500
as a donation to SEDF.
In June 2014, Whole Planet Foundation approved an additional $650,001,
PRI, 0% interest, local currency,loan over 3 years to support the expansion
of SEDs main “Village Bank” loan product and expand into the new Burirum
province reaching 3,000 borrowers and leveraging $1.3M in loans.
WPF funds would directly support the expansion of SED at a critical stage
of the projects development. SED is now in a healthy position to expand
itself.
Microfinance in Thailand:
Although the Bank of Thailand and Thai Finance Ministry have recently
begun to make very positive strides in developing an improved
microfinance sector specifically by 1) increasing the interest rate cap from
18% to 36% and 2) drafting regulations on licensing financial and nonfinancial institutions to extend microfinance loans, the industry for now
remains dominated by subsidized government lending initiatives. The
recent changes have encouraged a few large commercial banks to move
downmarket but have yet to attract the wide array of microfinance
institutions providing financial services to the bottom of the pyramid as
observed in other countries in South East Asia. Furthermore, this also
means that there is little ability for organizations like SED to access the
capital markets due to lack of interest on the part of the banks concerning
the industry.
MICROENTREPRENEURS
Team Member volunteers attended a center meeting of Small Enterprise Development
and then walked to four different microcredit client businesses, weaving, silk worm raising
and thread making, frog raising and a small shop where one can buy silk goods.
Elephant Nature Park
ELEPHANT NATURE PARK
Information from Elephant Nature Park:
and animals will be encouraged by the re-introduction of
Elephant Nature Park (ENP) was founded by Lek
the rain forest. Some 25 acres of the mountainside will be
Chailert, a famed elephant rescuer. It is a unique project
planted every year for the first 5 years.
set in Chiang Mai province, Northern Thailand.
3. Cultural Preservation: To maintain, as much as
Established in the 1990’s, our aim has always been to
possible, the cultural integrity of the local community. By
provide a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants. The
creating employment and purchasing agricultural
park is located some 60km from the city and has
products locally we are assisting the villagers in
provided a sanctuary for dozens of distressed elephants
sustaining their distinct culture. Park managers are
from all over Thailand.
recruited locally to oversee the park’s progress.
Set in a natural valley, bordered by a river and
4. Visitors Education: To educate visitors, individuals,
surrounded by forested mountains the area offers a
study groups, schools and interested parties. Emphasis
timeless glimpse of rural life.
on the plight of the endangered local species will be
presented in an entertaining and constructive manner.
Elephant Nature Park Mission Statement
5. Future phases will include audio / visual equipment
1. Sanctuary for endangered species: We provide homes
and other modern educational aids. It is anticipated that
for these animals as well as contributing to their welfare
small conferences and workshops will be organized at
and development.
the park.
2. Rain Forest Restoration: One of the most exciting
6. Act independently of pressure groups and political
developments at the park is our program of tree planting
movements that we consider contrary to the well being of
the surrounding area. The ecological balance of plants
the park and the creatures in its care.
CONSERVATION
Team Members performed their community service by helping
the staff of the Elephant Nature Park (ENP) to feed, bathe and
clean up after the elephants in the sanctuary while performing a
variety of other tasks to support the elephants and their habitat.
By being in close proximity to the elephants and through their
own observation, they were able to learn about them. Through
the staff and the activities that they performed with the staff, they
gained an appreciation of the animals and all the work that goes
into protecting and caring for them.
LEARN
WORK
BEAUTY
Team Members learned about
The volunteers fed and washed the
Elephant Nature Park and its mission
The elephants and the surrounding
elephants and cleaned up elephant
from famed elephant rescuer and
scenery were a sight to behold. Just
excrement, which since they are
activist and the founder of ENP Lek
being around the elephants everyday
vegetarians, was reported to be not
Chailert, They were assigned duties
was a wonder.
too unpleasant.
and taught how to care for the
elephants.
Alter Eco
ALTER ECO
WHOLE FOODS MARKET SUPPLIER PARTNER
A letter from co-founders of Alter Eco, Edouard and
Mathieu:
Dear loyal customers,
But the achievement we’re most proud of is the family
Alter Eco is based on the premise that food is
we’ve created. Together with our farmers, employees,
fundamental to life – and whole, healthy, delicious food
investors and customers, we’re taking an adventure
can make life better for people all over the world. By
through food, and creating a vision of the future that’s fair,
working directly with the small-scale farmers who grow
prosperous, healthy and mouth-watering. Though we
our quinoa, rice, sugar and cacao, helping them institute
can’t all break bread at the same table, we like to think
Fair Trade and Organic practices and assisting them in
that every time we crack open a bag or bar of Alter Eco
improving both quality of food and quality of life, we’re
here in the states, we’re sharing a lively meal with
creating a system that benefits everyone involved. Our
Gustavo in Bolivia, Sompoi in Thailand, Grover in
values extend to the flora, fauna and fields – we work
Ecuador – and you.
with our co-op partners to preserve heirloom grains,
replenish and reforest the land. And as a GHG Protocol 3
B the Change,
Carbon Zero business, we offset more carbon than we
Edouard Rollet, Co-Founder and COO
emit.
Mathieu Senard, Co-Founder and CEO
ALTER ECO AND THE RICE COOPERATIVE
The volunteers visited the cooperative where Alter Eco sources rice in Thailand, learned about the different steps that go into producing the
rice and found out about the varieties of rice that Alter Eco produces.
RICE
Team Members learned about the characteristics of the different stages of rice and the process for weighing, measuring humidity and
calculating yield that is used to determine what is paid to the famers for the rice, in the spirit of true transparency.
PLANTING TREES
The volunteers planted six trees and had a fantastic lunch featuring Alter Eco rice prepared for them by the cooperative. They learned
about the mill and the warehouse the farmers were able to build with the fair trade premium generated by the sale of their rice.
RICE
Team Members met the original farmer who started the organic rice production in the community to stop the illness that came from the
chemicals they had been using on the rice. The volunteers also visited a rice farm learning about proper spacing of the rice in the field to
increase yield.
For additional info on the Rice Fund cooperative visit in Surin, read a blog post from Alter Eco team member, Kara:
http://www.alterecofoods.com/meet-samrat-thongeim/
http://www.alterecofoods.com/thailand-visit-whole-foods-volunteers/
JULIAN
“Meeting elephants would be hard to top. I loved the ENP and had a great
JACK
“Elephant Nature Park is a GREAT
time working there and meeting all of their folks. Incredible work. Overall,
organization, doing AMAZING work to
the entire trip was amazing.Thailand is an incredible trip. The food is
help rescue and provide sanctuary to
incredible, the lodging is top-notch and there is so much to see and do.
hundreds of animals. And they provide
Amazing country, awesome people, Fantastic guide!”
employment to more than 350 people
from surrounding villages. Working
and helping to provide sanctuary for
endangered Asian elephants is an
SHAWNA
amazing once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity.”
“It was absolutely an incredible experience. I loved meeting with the
vendors, meeting the women in the village and volunteering at the
Elephant Nature Park. I was completely in awe that we are involved in
microcredit loans, but the company really encourages team members to
RACHEL
go see it first hand to actually understand where the money is going, how
it's being spent, and truly how it is shaping those communities and
changing them for the better. I don’t think I could have been on this trip
with a better group of people. Alter Eco is one of my favorite parts of the
trip. Checking out the rice paddy fields and meeting with the farmers.
“I had an absolutely amazing time. Trip of
a lifetime! It was an amazing group of
people and an amazing trip, I am so
grateful that I was able to go on this
journey! Thank you!!!”
LOVED IT! It was so great to see them first hand, plant some rice, see
the processing facility. BEST! Seriously, I am just happy you guys
thought I would represent the Pacific Northwest Region of WFM well and
humbled I got to go and experience this with such a fine group of people.
It was an experience of a lifetime. I have nothing but incredible things to
say about it!”
JOSHUA
“My favorite part? It was a toss up
between the Alter Eco day and the
Elephant Nature Park. We were able
to see and learn a lot about the culture
LESLIE
in both of these experiences.”
LINDA
“The Alter Eco day was one of my favorite days. Meeting the farmers,
especially the person that started the organic farming movement there.
The story was so great to hear. Working here, I always get questions
about why to buy organic and I always tell people great for the earth and
DANNA
you’re not taking in the chemicals but to have a story that the farmers
“Overall I thought the experience was a
grow organic so they don't get sick puts such a personal touch on the
one-of-a-kind, life-changing trip. I
reasoning why to buy organic. I have told that story more than any other
been so close to wildlife where they
story. Our guide Noi was amazing at explaining the culture of Thailand,
are being saved from possible
the importance of Buddhism and what the Buddhists believe was
extinction. The work they are doing
beautiful. Really good for my heart and soul. It was also wonderful to
there is so amazing. I would go back
hear the importance of food in Thailand. It was amazing.”
in a heartbeat.”
2014 THAILAND WFM TMVP IMPACT
11 TEAM
MEMBERS
40
MICROCREDIT
CLIENTS MET
6 TREES
PLANTED
8 SED CLIENT
BUSINESSES
VISITED
35 ELEPHANTS
FED AND
BATHED
TRUCKLOAD OF
BANANAS
UNLOADED
1 FIELD OF RICE
PLANTED
COUNTLESS
DOGS PETTED,
WALKED AND
FED