They shared a vision of reducing poverty and created a financial co-operative to pool money from investors.
This money began to be lent to farmers and handicraft makers in the developing world.
As the pot of money grew, so did Shared Interest's impact on the fair trade movement.
Twenty years on, Shared Interest is annually lending over £33 million and is working in 36 countries around the globe. With its headquarters in Newcastle upon Tyne, it has offices in Costa Rica, Kenya and Peru, and continues to be the world's only 100% fair trade lender.
Shared Interest is needed now more than ever -
to lend to producers and companies dedicated
to fairer trade.
Harriet Lamb, Fairtrade Foundation
to lend to producers and companies dedicated
to fairer trade.
Harriet Lamb, Fairtrade Foundation
