World Challenge: Nominations Open for Seventh Year
World Challenge: Nominations Open for Seventh Year of
Global Competition
London, 28 March, 2011. Nominations have now opened for the seventh annual World Challenge competition, which rewards projects and small businesses around the world showing enterprise and innovation.
BBC World News and Newsweek have once again teamed up with Shell to identify and reward people and groups that bring economic, social and environmental benefits to their local communities.
Nominations must be
submitted through the World Challenge website -
theworldchallenge.co.uk Paul Gibbs, Head of Programmes, BBC World
News, says: "The longevity of this competition is testament
to the consistently high standard of entrants we have
received. Nominations have increased year on year and never
fail to impress us in their originality and invention. The
real success of World Challenge lies in the continuing
benefit it brings to many of the projects and their
communities, not just the prize winners, all of which have
gained from their involvement in the competition." Rhona
Murphy, Publisher & Managing Director, International, at
Newsweek says: "Newsweek, in partnership with BBC World News
and Shell, is delighted that for the seventh consecutive
year we can continue to showcase such a rewarding global
initiative. The World Challenge project has given our
readers the opportunity to be involved with grass roots
projects and disadvantaged communities in an extremely
positive way."
Karen Westley, Social Performance & Social
Investment Manager, Shell adds: "Shell is proud to continue
its support of World Challenge for the seventh year running.
We feel it is really important to recognise and reward
people that make a real and tangible difference to their
local communities." The 2010 winner was an innovative
project by The Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation
Inc. (AIDFI), who created a hydraulic ram pump which uses
the power of a river's flow to literally push water uphill
without any other energy input. The ram pump is proving to
be a lifeline for poor villagers living in mountainous
regions. It can save both hours of back-breaking work
carrying water and cash where expensive water pumps are
replaced. AIDFI has now introduced the ram pump to over 170
upland villages, and has plans to spread the benefits far
and wide among poor communities. Once nominations have
closed, a panel of expert judges will shortlist the 12
entries they consider to have shown the most innovation, and
made the greatest social and environmental investment in
their communities. BBC World News will broadcast six
30-minute programmes in October and November 2011, profiling
the finalists. Newsweek will mirror the programmes' content
in a four-part series of special features about the
nominees. Viewers and readers will be invited to vote for
their favourites. In addition, BBC World News will be
airing a series of 15-minute programmes, called Down to
Business, which will see green business trouble-shooter Leo
Johnson visit past projects to give them advice. Newsweek
magazine will also run a special feature on Down to
Business. Much more content will also be available on the
The World Challenge The winning entrant
for this year's World Challenge will be announced at an
awards ceremony in November 2011. The ceremony will be
broadcast on BBC World News and detailed in Newsweek in the
same
month. ENDS