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Jonny HarrisonJonny Harrison is sailing to Australia from the UK via the Panama Canal before he starts work in Sydney on a secondment at his firm PricewaterhouseCoopers »
Andrew HebdenAndrew Hebden is Assistant Editor (Business) of The Journal »
Katie PringleKatie Pringle has started her own business, Rock, Paper, Scissors »
Andrew MerninAndrew Mernin is the Digital Journalist for nebusiness »
Matthew RipponMatthew Rippon is an IP lawyer for BHP Law »
Jez DavisonFormerly editor of a national business lifestyle magazine, Jez Davison is a business writer for the Evening Gazette in Teesside »
Ross SmithRoss Smith, Head of Policy and Research at the North-East Chamber of Commerce »
Julian ChristopherJulian Christopher from Footprint Public Relations, on media and marketing »
Norma FosterNorma Foster from the North East Regional Portal writes about e-business »
Ian BrownIan Brown, Northumberland farmer and businessman writes about the agricultural industry »
Steve WilkinsonAccessibilty Champion Steve Wilkinson on the importance of inclusion »
Andrea WilkinsonAndrea Wilkinson of Shared Interest is visiting Rwanda to deliver business training »
Jonathan WheatleyJonathan Wheatley from Stokesley-based MC Ware writes about IT matters »
Paul WilliamsonPaul Williamson from Deloitte »

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Andrea Wilkinson


Andrea Wilkinson

Nothing to Declare from Dubai

Posted by Andrea Wilkinson on August 27, 2008 4:34 PM

Well after 22 hours of travelling, 15 hours on planes and a five hour stopover in Dubai (where it was 35 degrees at midnight) I have finally made it to Johannesburg.

For the first time in two years and numerous trips to Africa my airport pickup actually picked me up. Would you believe it?!

Despite getting on the right plane (this time) and everything happening according to schedule, it wouldn't be me in Africa if everything went according to plan!

My bags hadn't been broken into when I arrived- apparently a bit of a miracle for Johannesburg airport. I was then shunted off to the 'something to declare' aisle (even though the only thing I wanted to declare was the need for some sleep and a hot shower!)

Continue reading "Nothing to Declare from Dubai" »


Andrea Wilkinson

5 flights, 6 hotels, 2 cars, 20 meetings and 5 training sessions

Posted by Andrea Wilkinson on August 21, 2008 4:39 PM

Here I am again in the whirlwind that is pre-planning for a long haul journey. This time it's a mammoth trip to the Swaziland and South Africa for three weeks, flying from the UK to Johannesburg to Swaziland to Mpumalanga to Cape Town.

From visiting the largest trade fair in the Southern Hemisphere to training people in fair trade awareness at Kruger National Park and Cape Town to watching King Mswati the Third of Swaziland pick his 14th wife; it's going to be a varied trip!

Continue reading "5 flights, 6 hotels, 2 cars, 20 meetings and 5 training sessions" »


Andrea Wilkinson

A Royal Celebration

Posted by Andrea Wilkinson on July 3, 2008 11:31 AM

Yesterday was an exciting day in the history of Shared Interest as we officially accepted our Queen’s Award for Enterprise.

The only winner for Sustainable Development in the North East, and out of 800 businesses that applied nationally, Shared Interest came out tops for its dedication to sustainability over the last five years.

In the afternoon all of our UK staff - plus Hugo and Rachel from Costa Rica and Kenya – as well as supporters and partners of the organisation, headed up to the Assembly Rooms to meet the Lord Lieutenant for the ceremony.

Following on from this, Shared Interest MD, Patricia Alexander and our longest serving member of staff Ann Colquhoun have both been invited down to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen!

Although we all know that our work has vital impact in the developing world, it is a real honour to get the Queen’s stamp of approval.

After the official ceremony, staff celebrations continued into the evening to mark this very special event - on her Majesty's orders of course!


Andrea Wilkinson

Sharing an International Interest

Posted by Andrea Wilkinson on July 1, 2008 3:57 PM

Guten Morgen (German), Buenos días (Spanish), Muraho (Kinyarwanda), Habari za asubuhi (Swahili)

There is a real buzz in the office today ahead of tomorrow’s Queens Award Ceremony (more on that later.) This is due to our overseas regional staff having arrived - Rachel from Kenya and Hugo from Costa Rica, and a producer customer of ours from Mauritius, Gabriel (Craft Aid Mauritius) which adds even more of an international flavour to the cultural mix we already have in the Shared Interest office with staff members from Germany, Ecuador and Venezuela.

I took the opportunity to chat to Rachel about the importance of involving the people we work with in every stage of our project. It turned into quite a lively discussion about the importance of involving beneficiaries in every part of our overseas work.

We aim to work closely with those people who will directly benefit from Shared Interest Foundation and its investment arm the Shared Interest Society (usually the farmers and the handicraft makers.)

At the beginning of each Foundation project, we start with a stakeholder meeting as local communities and businesses often have a clearer idea of the solution to their problems and are aware of any obstacles that need to be overcome before getting started.

For example, through the Shared Interest Rwanda project, we plan to run training in 10 districts throughout the country. However, before we can even set foot into many of these areas we need to seek approval first from the District Officers. We may not have known this unless we had the inside knowledge achieved from working so closely with people on the ground.

Rachel and I both agree that working closely with fair trade businesses in their own communities helps us to understand these types of issues including funding needs, as well as being able to evaluate the effectiveness of projects, plan for the long term future and target the most needy.

Although we talk quite often on Skype, it is great to talk to staff from our regional offices face to face like this and draw on their everyday experiences in Costa Rica and Kenya, which in some ways are very similar but in others very different to our own here in Newcastle.


Andrea Wilkinson

Give someone a Cow!

Posted by Andrea Wilkinson on June 30, 2008 4:40 PM

Random Rwandan proverb:

'Yampiye inka!' translates as 'You have given me a cow!'

Like in many other countries around the world, cows have great importance in Rwanda and are still used as dowries in wedding ceremonies. However as I learnt from one of our partners cows can signify completely different things.

The first time I heard this proverb I was confused. I knew the man in question and I hadn’t given anyone a cow in well over a year (even then it was through those Oxfam Unwrapped gifts....)

It seems Rwandans have a bit of our British sarcasm as if the proverb is said warmly, it means you have given me something of great value. If it is said with a sarcastic tone or while laughing, it means whatever you are telling them is ridiculous and you need to think again.

Luckily on this occasion it was said positively.

Apparently by providing this training project to producers throughout Rwanda, Shared Interest is in effect giving them a cow! We are giving them hope for the future; a cow is a sign of wealth, a sign of planning, and a sign of security.

So, rather like the way we have saving accounts, Rwandans have cows.

Of course, each one also provides up to 15 litres of milk for drinking and sales.

I am extremely happy to be “giving many communities cows�.

Despite them not being real, these cows are providing hope for thousands of craft makers across the country.

So if you only do one thing today – give someone a cow!


Andrea Wilkinson

Using Art to follow your Heart

Posted by Andrea Wilkinson on June 27, 2008 4:07 PM

Today is a good day. Not only is it Friday but my painting also arrived from Rwanda. Regular readers will know that Joan and I practically lived in the Bourbon Coffee Shop in Kigali, where we would work well into the night on the Shared Interest project.

We fell in love with the beautiful, unique paintings covering the walls, and always keen to help a struggling artist we finally managed to track him down, hear his story and of course buy one of his creations.

Had Pascal Bushayija’s father had his way, he would now be a doctor or a lawyer. But Bushayija followed his heart instead.

I decided there and then that I would like a copy of the painting that was on the wall directly opposite us, so I asked if he could make me a copy and wasn’t quite ready for the response that I got....

After a flurry of hand gestures and loud French, I kind of got the feeling he wasn’t too happy!
Joan kindly translated for me and it seems I had unknowingly offended Bushayija. He asked why I would insult his work like this by asking for a copy, didn’t I want something original?

He then went on to conduct what I can only describe as an interview, questioning me about my life, my home and personality and said that he would create something that would reflect this.
I explained my love for his country, my passion for the work that I do with both handicraft makers and farmers and that my house was quite similar to the coffee shop we were sitting in – covered with African handicrafts. He then smiled (which was a huge relief to me!) and agreed.

Never in my life have I had to persuade someone to paint a picture that I will would actually be paying for.

Bushayija told me that the main inspiration for his work is everyday life in Rwanda. Since I had shown a love for his country and his people, I apparently passed the test and the prize was receiving a one-off painting of my own.

And today that piece of art arrived. I have to say it was well worth the wait and the ’interview!’ Bushayija’s own unique style, integrating three dimensional objects such a millet grain, tree bark and sawdust has resulted in a superb picture – a great reminder of a fantastic trip and an inspirational artist.


Andrea Wilkinson

Women: leading Rwanda to a brighter future

Posted by Andrea Wilkinson on June 26, 2008 5:12 PM

I was reading this morning that women are leading Rwanda to a brighter future. Of course, this makes sense when you realise that women form over 70% of the population there.

This startling statistic is down to the genocide, when around a million people were murdered in 100 days and 500,000 women and young girls were raped. However, human spirit has won through, with as many as six orphaned children being taken in by each household. With over a third of Rwandan homes being led by women, there are many mothers bringing up other people’s children as their own.

So the real story of Rwandan women should not be the suffering but the ability to overcome such horrific obstacles with dignity, grace and determination to create a better life for them and their families.

As a result of their courage to speak out, for the first time in history rape is being prosecuted as a war crime. What’s more, the 2003 election attributed 49% of parliament seats to women, which is the highest in the world (world average 15.2%). This enables women to have a voice and a platform to be heard.

One of the organisations that Shared Interest Foundation will be working with throughout our project is Gahaya Links, which was set up by two Rwandan women that were born in a refugee camp in Uganda. They started their business in 2003 to help Rwandan women make handicraft items and find a market to through which to sell them. Starting out with six women sitting under a tree making baskets, Gahaya Links now involves over 3,000 women.

These are the women of Rwandan today, the ones who see things differently. The women who work together regardless of tribal differences, regardless of the traumas they have overcome, regardless of poverty, ill health, stress and despair and they emerge with hope and an unfaltering outlook

These are the people that we will help throughout this project. It is the Rwandan people themselves who will do the real work and Shared Interest Foundation will offer the guidance to help them on their way as they continue to work towards empowering the people of Rwanda.


Andrea Wilkinson

And did I mention training?

Posted by Andrea Wilkinson on June 25, 2008 4:05 PM

Well, it’s my third day back in the office and I’m still buzzing with excitement.

I’ve just returned from a meeting in Kaffeccinos (the Fair Trade coffee shop around the corner from Shared Interest’s office) with Jo Hubbard, Traidcraft’s Business Services Co-ordinator.

As I mentioned earlier, our networks and partnerships with other organisations are key to making this project a success.

Traidcraft will be carrying out the ‘Train the Trainers Training’ (yup it’s that old catchy one again!) They will train the 15 candidates in business and financial skills training techniques, as well as coaching them to develop a training manual for the three year project and beyond. (Is there an alternative word for training?!)

Jo and I discussed my recent trip to Rwanda as she and her team will be heading out there in September to carry out the first course and get our trainers up to speed in all aspects of the international training methods that will make this project a huge success.

We will be working with Traidcraft for the next 10 months, and in January 2009, the trainers themselves will start mentoring the 50 producer organisations.

Its days like today that I realise how lucky I am to have a job I love!


Andrea Wilkinson

Congratulations from over 4,000 miles away

Posted by Andrea Wilkinson on June 24, 2008 4:52 PM

Although we wish we could say we will look forward to working alongside our new member of staff, we can’t.

Of course, this is only for the reason that he will be based 4,000 miles away!

So, on behalf of Shared Interest Foundation and COFTA, we welcome Donatien Mungwarareba as co-ordinator of our Rwandan Producer Support Project.

Donatien is a 31 year old Rwandan national, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Management, who is also studying for a Masters in Project Management in the evenings.

From 1st August, Donatien will be spending his days based in the Rwandan Private Sector Federation office in Kigali. Going out to visit all 50 of the farmers and handicraft makers as soon as he joins the team, Donatien will get real hands-on experience during his first few weeks in post.


Andrea Wilkinson

Old Habits Die Hard

Posted by Andrea Wilkinson on June 23, 2008 1:47 PM

Well after another omelette-free breakfast and hot shower I am back in the Shared Interest office. It feels strange that you can be in central Africa one day and in Newcastle’s Groat Market the next – the wonders of Boeing 777’s!

This week is already a whirl of email catch up, paperwork and chatting with colleagues.

The reaction of people we met in Rwanda spurs me on. They are clearly keen to work in partnership and push forward the plans we proposed.

We now only have one day to go until our successful candidate formally accepts the role of Project Co-ordinator (although according to Joan from COFTA, the initial reaction we received leaves us little cause for worry.)

But then, even though I’m back in the UK, my thoughts are never far from Rwanda.

After reading Rwanda’s national newspaper, the New Times over breakfast this morning (old habits die hard so I brought a few home with me!) I was drawn to an article headlined Rwanda’s Food Crisis.

It made me think of the current economic downturn here. Do we consider poorer countries like Rwanda and how they may be crippled by the effects of rising world food prices? Sometimes we forget that the impact is global.

By creating, maintaining and strengthening handicraft businesses in Rwanda, the Shared Interest and COFTA project will serve to help establish ‘off-farm’ income so that people aren’t relying on the land to secure a livelihood and feed their families.

The next few months are going to be vital in helping this take shape.

And with that in mind, back to the emails....!


Andrea Wilkinson

Blissful Breakfast and Battery Boost

Posted by Andrea Wilkinson on June 22, 2008 7:33 PM

Well as much as I love travelling and working out in the field, I have to say that it is good to be home!

It took a solid 11 hours of sleep to make up for the insomnia of the journey, then I had the most wonderful HOT shower and omelette-free breakfast; bliss!

I popped into work yesterday to sort out the contract for our new Rwandan Project Coordinator, had a quick chat with Joan and I am now taking the rest of the weekend off to recharge batteries.

Watch this space to find out if the new Shared Interest Foundation staff member accepted the role and what lies ahead for the Rwandan training project.

For now I’m just looking forward to 48 hours of home comforts before the whirlwind of work next week.


Andrea Wilkinson

Homeward Bound

Posted by Andrea Wilkinson on June 20, 2008 2:35 PM

The journey home was going to be a long one.

And with the gorillas safely tucked away in my hand luggage, thanks to the Peace Baskets, I had to rely on the age old tradition of sitting on my case to zip it up!

I was sad to be leaving Rwanda (though I'm sure I’ll be back soon), but what a great feeling to know the Shared Interest and COFTA project has the backing of the Rwandan Private Sector Federation and, more importantly, the artisans and farmers themselves.

On the way to the airport, we had a whistle stop tour of Kigali to say our goodbyes and managed to pick up some beautiful Rwandan earrings with a brand new design. (I’ve promised to see how they go down in the UK market.)

Eventually we made it onto the plane after struggling through the hilliest country I have every visited!

And it was at this point I began thinking that Joan and I are celebrity magnets...

After meeting the most famous rap stars in Nigeria last week, here we were sitting in front of the entire Rwandan National football team. You couldn’t miss them - their coach was giving them a motivational speech, somehow ignoring the fact that they were surrounded by a plane full of passengers. Of course, we got photos and wished them good luck for their game against Tunisia.

And as I began to think that nothing would surprise me now, we continued on our long journey home....


Andrea Wilkinson

Woohoo! We have chosen our Project Coordinator!

Posted by Andrea Wilkinson on June 18, 2008 10:06 AM

Well I’m all packed (a huge challenge what with all these baskets and gorillas!) Going home actually feels good after yesterday’s landmark event.

Four candidates had second interviews, this time in front of a panel including a director of the Chamber of Arts and Crafts and a Rwandan Private Sector Federation representative, as well as Joan from COFTA and, of course me, representing Shared Interest Foundation.

I have to say that I was glad I was on the other side of the table! The four candidates had to answer tough questions about the Rwanda Handicraft sector, project management and Fair Trade standards in three - yes three - different languages (English, French and Kinyarwanda.)

After the panel collected their thoughts and scored each candidate I was delighted there was a clear winner.

Woohoo! We have chosen our Project Coordinator!

So today we will be sorting out contracts, start dates and induction plans!

This is a major step and it is all starting to feel excitingly real. The last 10 days have been busy but we have achieved so much, which is a great feeling to have as I dash for the airport.