Philippines, Haiti and Pakistan….what do they have in common?

Posted by Andrea Shared Interest Foundation

January 26, 2010

Many of us over the festive period were spending time with loved ones, snuggling up on the sofa with the new DVD we got for Christmas and indulging in way too much food and wine. While others all around the globe were struck, without warning by landslides, typhoons and earthquakes.

Haiti, the Philippines and Pakistan have all been hit by a range of natural disasters over the last few months. Countries which struggle on a good day to find enough money to feed and clothe their families and provide an education for their children are now without homes, electricity and clean water. They are desperately waiting on our help.

Many of the fair trade farmers and craft makers that Shared Interest has worked with for many years are struggling to rebuild their lives following natural disasters of some sort. Fair trade may be about trade not aid but we still have a responsibility to offer a helping hand to farmers and craft makers should they find themselves hit by forces beyond their control.

This is why Shared Interest Foundation has set up a Livelihood Security Fund, to help in situations exactly like these. We are not here to duplicate the amazing work that others like the Red Cross who provide things like medical support, food and shelters. We are here to secure livelihoods, to empower people to rebuild their lives and provide a secure and sustainable income into their family home.

One of the organisations the Shared Interest Foundation has supported recently is the Community Craft Association (CCAP) in the Philippines, who lost all of their products that were boxed and waiting to be shipped to their buyer, their building, two vehicles and much, much more. Many of their workers were neck deep in water and lost their homes.

I have just received an update from Gina, their Executive Director, following their rehabilitation efforts after Typhoon Odnoy hit late last year. Gina also lost her husband two weeks after the disaster.

Shared Interest Foundation donated £5,000 to CCAP, to help rebuild their business following the disaster and this is what CCAP have spent the money on (in Gina’s own words):

“Our first priority after the Typhoon Ondoy disaster was to reproduce all the damaged goods, so we can deliver the goods to our buyers within the year. We had to work double time and under pressure for all CCAP staff and partner producers and the hard work paid off very well. We were able to ship out the goods as we have committed to our buyers.

We used Shared Interest Foundation’s donation for the replenishment of the ordered goods in the “Tulong Sulong” Helping CCAP move forward efforts.

Thank you very much for your generous effort, thoughtfulness and deep compassion to help us in the best way that you can.”

The Foundation has recently launched appeals to help other organisations like CCAP, such as those in Haiti and Pakistan, but this will only be possible with your help.

If you would like to donate to the Livelihood Security Fund and help rebuild communities like this, please send a cheque payable to Shared Interest Foundation to, Shared Interest, No. 2 Cathedral Square, Groat Market, Newcastle, NE1 4XF or donate online by clicking here.