Shared Interest Society lends money to fair trade businesses in the developing world. Shared Interest Foundation works in the same countries, providing business skills training to those who need it. (This often includes Shared Interest Society customers but it isn't exclusively for them.)

Education, training and access to fair finance are essential in maximising business opportunities for communities in the developing world. With your support, we can harness our position at the heart of the fair trade movement.

In 2009 alone, the Foundation worked with almost 400 individuals in four countries throughout Africa. Now in its penultimate year, the Big Lottery funded Rwandan Producer Support Project aims to provide training, mentoring and counselling to local businesses.

The project encourages diversification, adding to the existing skill bank to ensure success for the future.

To date the African projects have been a huge success and as a result the Foundation is now looking to expand its services into Latin America.

In addition to these training projects, Shared Interest Foundation also focuses on raising money that can be used to help fair trade business should disaster strike.

World famous ice cream manufacturer Ben and Jerry's recently donated $10,000 to Shared Interest Foundation's Landslide Appeal. This is an exciting partnership with a worldwide brand. For fair trade farmers who are part of Mountain Fruits Association, it will enable them to rebuild the livelihood threatened by the landslides that hit Pakistan earlier this year.