WHOLE FOODS MARKET®

TEAM MEMBER VOLUNTEER PROGRAM2014 THAILAND SUMMARY & IMPACT REPORT

Whole Planet Foundation® (WPF) funds microlending

programs in Thailand where Alter Eco sources rice

which is sold in Whole Foods Market® (WFM) stores.

WPF is a WFM non-profit whose mission is to alleviate

poverty by funding microlending programs where WFM

sources products as a way to alleviate poverty and

give back to our global communities.

Through the WFM Team Member Volunteer Program,

WFM gives Team Members the unique opportunity to

travel abroad with WPF to learn about WPF and meet

microcredit clients, see where and how WFM products

are grown, provide community service, experience and

learn from other cultures and challenge themselves by

exploring exciting countries around the globe.

WHOLE FOODS MARKET®TEAM MEMBER VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

WFM TEAM MEMBER VOLUNTEER PROGRAM TRAVEL IN THAILAND

Trip 2

Community service with Elephant Nature Park

and sightseeing in Chiang Mai

Arrival, departure and sightseeing

in Bangkok

WPF microlending partner Small Enterprise Development and WFM

supplier partner Alter Eco in Surin

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 August 18- September 1, 2014

Buck Buckles (Florida, Biscayne store)

Glenda Flanagan (Global Office)

Rachel Landers (Global Office)

Leslie Alves (Global Office)

Jack Colwell (Northern California, Castro store)

Cheryl Sadlowski (Northeast ,Tribeca store)

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)

2014 THAILAND SUMMARY

GROUP COORDINATOR

Jeremy Bookman

THAILAND GUIDES

Mr. Weerapang Tananchana (Noi)

Daniel Zoltani

PROJECT COORDINATOR

Elephant Nature Park

WFM TEAM MEMBER

VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

MANAGER

Genie Bolduc

Small Enterprise Development

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

2014 THAILAND ITINERARY AUGUST 18-SEPTEMBER 1

Small Enterprise Development

THE EXPERIENCEMeeting microcredit clients

Recovering lost luggage Seeing elephants Sightseeing

Planting riceEating delicious Thai foodLearning about rice

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.

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.

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.

FOOD

CULTURE

LOCAL TRADITION

WHOLE PLANET FOUNDATION MICROCREDIT PARTNER

SMALL ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT

FEMALE CLIENTS

93.25% 95.03%

REPAYMENT RATE

15,983

WPF SUPPORTED CLIENTS AS OF 9/30/2014

History:

In 1988, Small Enterprise Development Project was established to support

the development of a microfinance system in Surin, Thailand and provide

assistance to rural poor women in the creation of village banks within their

communities.

In 1996, the SED Project was transformed into the Small Enterprise

Development Company, Ltd.( SED), a social enterprise to support the

development of a microfinance system in Thailand and to provide

assistance to rural poor women in the creation of village banks within their

communities.

In 2012, SED Company founded the SED Foundation to, among other

things, assist SED the company in the non financial services and trainings

offered.

SED’s vision is to alleviate poverty of low-income and poor families of

Thailand and empower women through a sustainable poverty lending

program. The objectives of the village bank program are: • To alleviate poverty through credit services • To establish village banks that build savings in the community • To build a sustainable program

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

village banking services after completing the long sought after strategy of

implementing a partner foundation to assist in village bank development.

SED employs the village banking (VB) model to deliver their microfinance

services.

The VB group is a support group who meet monthly to provide themselves

with three essential services: • Small self-employment loans to start or expand their own

businesses • An incentive to save, and a means of accumulating savings • A community-based system that provides mutual support and

encourages personal empowerment.

Village Banking groups represent grassroots democracy in action;

members elect their own leaders, design their own bylaws, keep the books,

manage the funds, and are responsible for loan supervision, including

enforcing penalties for non-compliance.

The Grameen Method and Village Banking have similarities but differ

primarily on the roles and responsibilities of the center or the village bank.

The committee of the village bank has far greater responsibilities and is

heavily involved in the credit process. The tight control and constant

supervision in the Grameen Method is, in part, transferred to the group

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 non-

financial 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.

Small Enterprise Development

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

Information from Elephant Nature Park:

Elephant Nature Park (ENP) was founded by Lek

Chailert, a famed elephant rescuer. It is a unique project

set in Chiang Mai province, Northern Thailand.

Established in the 1990’s, our aim has always been to

provide a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants. The

park is located some 60km from the city and has

provided a sanctuary for dozens of distressed elephants

from all over Thailand.

Set in a natural valley, bordered by a river and

surrounded by forested mountains the area offers a

timeless glimpse of rural life.

Elephant Nature Park Mission Statement

1. Sanctuary for endangered species: We provide homes

for these animals as well as contributing to their welfare

and development.

2. Rain Forest Restoration: One of the most exciting

developments at the park is our program of tree planting

the surrounding area. The ecological balance of plants

and animals will be encouraged by the re-introduction of

the rain forest. Some 25 acres of the mountainside will be

planted every year for the first 5 years.

3. Cultural Preservation: To maintain, as much as

possible, the cultural integrity of the local community. By

creating employment and purchasing agricultural

products locally we are assisting the villagers in

sustaining their distinct culture. Park managers are

recruited locally to oversee the park’s progress.

4. Visitors Education: To educate visitors, individuals,

study groups, schools and interested parties. Emphasis

on the plight of the endangered local species will be

presented in an entertaining and constructive manner.

5. Future phases will include audio / visual equipment

and other modern educational aids. It is anticipated that

small conferences and workshops will be organized at

the park.

6. Act independently of pressure groups and political

movements that we consider contrary to the well being of

the park and the creatures in its care.

Elephant Nature Park

Team Members learned about

Elephant Nature Park and its mission

from famed elephant rescuer and

activist and the founder of ENP Lek

Chailert, They were assigned duties

and taught how to care for the

elephants.

The volunteers fed and washed the

elephants and cleaned up elephant

excrement, which since they are

vegetarians, was reported to be not

too unpleasant.

The elephants and the surrounding

scenery were a sight to behold. Just

being around the elephants everyday

was a wonder.

LEARN WORK BEAUTY

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.

CONSERVATION

ALTER ECOWHOLE FOODS MARKET SUPPLIER PARTNER

A letter from co-founders of Alter Eco, Edouard and

Mathieu:

Dear loyal customers,

Alter Eco is based on the premise that food is

fundamental to life – and whole, healthy, delicious food

can make life better for people all over the world. By

working directly with the small-scale farmers who grow

our quinoa, rice, sugar and cacao, helping them institute

Fair Trade and Organic practices and assisting them in

improving both quality of food and quality of life, we’re

creating a system that benefits everyone involved. Our

values extend to the flora, fauna and fields – we work

with our co-op partners to preserve heirloom grains,

replenish and reforest the land. And as a GHG Protocol 3

Carbon Zero business, we offset more carbon than we

emit.

But the achievement we’re most proud of is the family

we’ve created. Together with our farmers, employees,

investors and customers, we’re taking an adventure

through food, and creating a vision of the future that’s fair,

prosperous, healthy and mouth-watering. Though we

can’t all break bread at the same table, we like to think

that every time we crack open a bag or bar of Alter Eco

here in the states, we’re sharing a lively meal with

Gustavo in Bolivia, Sompoi in Thailand, Grover in

Ecuador – and you.

B the Change,

Edouard Rollet, Co-Founder and COO

Mathieu Senard, Co-Founder and CEO

Alter Eco

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/

“Meeting elephants would be hard to top. I loved the ENP and had a great

time working there and meeting all of their folks. Incredible work. Overall,

the entire trip was amazing.Thailand is an incredible trip. The food is

incredible, the lodging is top-notch and there is so much to see and do.

Amazing country, awesome people, Fantastic guide!”

JULIAN

“Overall I thought the experience was a

one-of-a-kind, life-changing trip. I

been so close to wildlife where they

are being saved from possible

extinction. The work they are doing

there is so amazing. I would go back

in a heartbeat.”

LINDA

JACK

RACHEL

“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!!!”

“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

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.

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!”

SHAWNA

DANNA

“Elephant Nature Park is a GREAT

organization, doing AMAZING work to

help rescue and provide sanctuary to

hundreds of animals. And they provide

employment to more than 350 people

from surrounding villages. Working

and helping to provide sanctuary for

endangered Asian elephants is an

amazing once-in-a-lifetime

opportunity.”

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

in both of these experiences.”LESLIE

“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

you’re not taking in the chemicals but to have a story that the farmers

grow organic so they don't get sick puts such a personal touch on the

reasoning why to buy organic. I have told that story more than any other

story. Our guide Noi was amazing at explaining the culture of Thailand,

the importance of Buddhism and what the Buddhists believe was

beautiful. Really good for my heart and soul. It was also wonderful to

hear the importance of food in Thailand. It was amazing.”

2014 THAILAND WFM TMVP IMPACT

11 TEAM MEMBERS

TRUCKLOAD OF BANANAS

UNLOADED

6 TREES PLANTED

1 FIELD OF RICE PLANTED

8 SED CLIENT BUSINESSES

VISITED

40 MICROCREDIT CLIENTS MET

35 ELEPHANTS FED AND BATHED

COUNTLESS DOGS PETTED, WALKED AND

FED