Legacy creates environments where people can address personal, community, and global needs while developing skills and effective responses to change.

The organization's methodologies help communities address such areas as diversity training, community development, youth education, cross-cultural competency, professional retraining, and environmental considerations. New mechanisms are found by using emerging technologies for the delivery of social services. Legacy works directly with community members to conceive agendas for change and provide networking, training, and tools to generate sustainable solutions.

Therefore, Legacy International is now a Greenstar Premium Partner. This means that, when you visit the Greenstar website as you're doing now, and make a purchase, a portion of the proceeds will be paid to this fine organization.

Everybody wins. You get some extraordinary, unusual and thoughtful gifts to use for holidays, birthdays, for your home, or to mark any special occasion. Legacy gains support for its important projects and Greenstar 's international projects, based in developing countries, also benefit.

So, who is Greenstar?

Greenstar is founded on a simple idea: that people, no matter where they live, have the same basic needs: for food, shelter, caring for their children and families, building their future, leading a life of learning, creativity and dignity. Where people in emerging nations don't enjoy the social and economic conditions to support these basic needs, all they need is the tools to grow by themselves, some assistance and startup resources.

And then they need everyone else to get out of the way.

Greenstar's concrete approach to delivering on this promise is also very simple: a self-contained, solar-powered, Web-connected community center. Including a medical clinic and telemedicine connections, a classroom, a commercial-grade photovoltaic solar power array, and a satellite dish for telecommunications.

Then, make it self-financing through ecommerce on the Internet.

We create a commercial website to market products from the village worldwide, and promote the site to nearly 200 million people who work, shop and learn on the Web every day. Allow them to connect with the people in the villages by email. The people in the village will decide for themselves how to use the income to improve their lives.

In a few months, a village can advance 1000 years, from a position where there is no electricity, no telephone or computer, no clean water, little medical or educational support, and little income, to a position where they are independent, growing, and connected to the world community.

A trial installation is underway on the West Bank, in a remote Palestinian village, with great success. To learn more, see http://www.greenstar.org/newsletter.htm

What do these people have to offer that you would be interested in -- for holiday gifts, for your home or office?

A surprising variety of beautiful and unique items -- from the historic Hebron area, which figures strongly in the scriptural events of Islam, Judaism and Christianity. Gorgeous brassware; subtle glassware and ceramics; finely-formed pottery.

And their culture -- live music recorded recently in the village, with extraordinary Bedouin sounds from a tradition more than 5000 years old. You can get a free sample of this amazing music by clicking here.

We also developed a gallery of artwork produced by the children and adults of the community, which shows a startling clarity of vision, and fine artistic balance. These digital products can be downloaded direct to your computer, where within minutes you'll hear amazing music and see stunning artwork. Find out more by clicking here.

One of the important ideas behind Legacy International is Learning Commnities, which are created through an application of several interlocking strategies, including:

• Partnering
• Leadership
• Cultural Diversity
• Global View
• Continuous learning
• Information technology
• Equity

Click here to learn more about Learning Communities.

Since 1979, Legacy's Global Youth Village has dramatically influenced the lives of young people in more than 95 different countries. Activities evoke creativity, dialogue, cross-cultural competency, and flexibility. In 2000, the program will have a dynamic mix of young people -- gifted students, urban and rural youths, as well as Native Americans, youth from 19 states within the US, Bosnia, Albania, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Estonia, Azerbaijan, France, Ghana, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Northern Ireland, Kenya, Nigeria, and Kosovo.

Find out more about the Global Youth Village, at http://www.legacyintl.org/gyvhome.htm

Major projects undertaken by Legacy include:

Russian and NIS market economy and democratic reform

Oil company executives and environmentalists find common ground in a series of dialogue sessions.

Capacity-building initiative empowers 84 New York City schools and leads to a significant decrease in school deficits over a three year period.

Dialogue sessions nurture greater commitment to coexistence in the Middle East. Arab and Jewish

Global Viewpoints Forums expand perspectives among government ministers, corporate executives, ambassadors, journalists, and religious leaders.

The Global Youth Village: 2,000 alumni in 90 countries impact their communities, pursue international and environmental careers

There's more detail at http://www.legacyintl.org/legacy/accomplishments.htm

Make a purchase here on the Greenstar website. Or call, toll-free to 877-282-9900 to quickly receive a printed catalog by overnight mail (323-422-9602 outside the U.S. and Canada).

That's all. Greenstar automatically pays 8% of your total purchase, including shipping, to Legacy, which uses the funds to support its important work.

Thank you from Greenstar and Legacy International.