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MUMBAI:
The new series of World Challenge 2007 continues to profile the
12 finalist projects and business initiatives that not only make
a profit, but also put something back into the community.
The
third programme in the series transmits on Saturday 20 October at
1030, 2030 and Sunday 21 October at 0230, 1330 GMT and features
the following two finalists:
Steaming Ahead
The Masarang Palm Sugar Factory - Indonesia
Extracting the sugar from sugar palm requires a large amount of
heat and for the farmers of Tomohon in Indonesia, using timber was
the obvious choice. Seeing the damage being done to the local rainforest,
conservation expert Dr Willie Smits established a factory that uses
waste steam from the local power plant to heat the sugar palm sap.
The resulting high-quality product is now being successfully exported,
with all profits going directly to the farmers' cooperative. Some
6,285 farmers and their families are now benefiting from the project,
and approximately 200,000 square meters of forest have been preserved.
School For Success
Fondation Paradis Des Indiens- Haiti
The Fondation Paradis Des Indiens project was founded by Canadian
expatriate Michaelle de Verteuil who set up a school especially
for children whose families couldn't afford uniforms and shoes -
without which they are banned from attending Haiti's regular schools.
Now, more than 30 years later, the project has expanded into a multi-faceted
development programme including poverty reduction activities, environmental
efforts and a microfinance scheme. However Fondation Paradis Des
Indiens continues in its original endeavours with 10 schools now
to its name, each with around 150 students.
Viewers will be able to vote for their favourite project on the
World Challenge 2007 website, www.theworldchallenge.co.uk
The
winning project will receive a grant of US$20,000 from Shell to
invest in its initiative. Two runners-up will each receive US$10,000.
The winners will be announced at an award ceremony in The Hague,
the Netherlands in December.
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