Author Archive
Yeah Of Course I’ll Run in the Chilli Costume
Planning to take part in the Great North 10k to raise funds for Shared Interest Foundation seemed like a great idea. That was until the time came that I had to start training. Two weeks before the run, after a long and lazy holiday. Adding to the pressure of actually getting out there and doing [...]
Increased orders for skilled Ugandan producers
From Rachel Ngondo, Regional Development Executive. When Malcolm, Shared Interest’s Customer Services Manager, came to Nairobi last week I was reminded of four years ago when he interviewed me for this job and I am amazed at how time has gone so fast! This is the week that the East African Community (EAC), comprising of Kenya, Uganda, [...]
The universal language of coffee
From Hugo Villela, Regional Development Executive; I’m writing to you from Chiapas, the southern department of Mexico, an area where the majority of the population comes from Mayan ethnic groups. Here the Catholic Church has undertaken a lot of work to develop the self sufficiency of the indigenous people, by organising them into Church based [...]
The Importance of Tortillas!
From Hugo Villela, Regional Development Executive; In the Mayan tradition the human being is made of corn, the corn is the basis of the life here in Mesoamerica, the region which used to be the Mayan territory (encompassing Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and northern Costa Rica). In the Chiapas Mountains you can see [...]
‘SEWING’ THE SEEDS OF FAIR TRADE IN TANZANIA FOR SHARED INTEREST
After 27 hours non-stop travel, two 6-hour stopovers and 3 different planes, I finally arrived to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. As always the interminable journey had been worth it to be back on African soil. And anyway, I had met up with Rachel Ngondo, our African Regional Development Executive, at Nairobi so I’d had [...]
Shared Interest Increases Lending in South Africa
Our East African Regional Development Executive, Rachel Ngondo has recently assisted another new African producer group with access to credit from Shared Interest. AMWA are a South African handicraft producer where fair trade, environmental responsibility and commercial viability, are integral parts of the manufacture and marketing of products. AMWA works with disadvantaged women in the [...]
South-South Trade – A new mission for Fair Trade
One issue within Fair Trade which is becoming increasingly more important is that of South-South Trade. Fair Trade has achieved a great amount over the past few decades in terms of creating a more level playing field for the producers of a variety of goods from coffee to crafts. However, currently that playing field still leaves [...]
Fast turnaround for Kenyan Producers
I first met Pauline Ntombura the Managing Director of Salom enterprises in August 2008. Salom Enterprises have experienced tremendous growth in their business in the last few years. This September they decided they would like to apply for a facility with Shared Interest. Salom works with 12 groups of producers located in Kisii district, Eastern [...]
Rollercoaster in Guatemala
The following is a Business Development Update by Hugo Villela, Regional Development Executive, Central America Hello colleagues… Here are some thoughts coming from my latest experience in Guatemala, a trip from 9th to 12th June, 2009. This trip was not to look for new customers… it was to look after our customer service, as one [...]
Shared Interest looks after the needs of Malawian fair trade producers
The following is a Business Development Update by Rachel Ngondo, Regional Development Executive, Africa Last time I promised to tell you how the trip I made to Malawi about two weeks ago… This was my first time to Malawi and I really looked forward to the visit. From Lusaka Zambia it is only an hour’s flight to [...]