ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ

Nominations open today for World Challenge 09, the worldwide competition that rewards projects and small businesses showing enterprise and innovation.

For the fifth time, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ World News and Newsweek have teamed up with Shell to identify and reward people and groups that bring economic, social and environmental benefits to their local communities.

Paul Gibbs, Head of Programmes, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ World News says: β€œThe quality of nominations we’ve received in past World Challenge competitions has been outstanding and we hope that this fifth year will be no exception. The winners not only go away with US$20,000 prize money, but also the knowledge that they have inspired many other entrepreneurs and charity initiatives. This is one of the world’s most exciting business and community project awards, and we at ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ World News are very proud to be continuing with the competition.”

Nominations can be submitted through the World Challenge 09 website - theworldchallenge.co.uk - by midnight (GMT) on 22 May 2009. The winning project will receive a US$20,000 grant from Shell, while two runners up will each receive US$10,000 to help develop their initiatives.

World Challenge began in 2005, propelling enterprising projects and businesses into the spotlight. Over the past four years, the competition has attracted almost 3,000 nominations from an average of more than 100 countries each year. In excess of 300,000 votes have been registered on the World Challenge website and financial grants have been awarded to 12 projects worldwide.

Rhona Murphy, Publisher and Managing Director, Newsweek International says: "Since 2005, World Challenge has proved that when it comes to sustaining our communities and the planet, small changes, maintained over time, truly matter. By singling out examples of grassroots excellence, World Challenge offers hope that there are solutions -- and we can be a part of them."

Roxanne Decyk, Director, Corporate Affairs, Shell says: "In today's challenging times, it's more important than ever that people feel empowered and encouraged to make a positive difference in the world, and World Challenge does just that. As we enter the fifth year of Shell's association with World Challenge, we are delighted to continue to work with ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ World News and Newsweek and to lend our financial support to the winning projects. Every year brings such a variety of projects all carrying out inspiring work within their local communities, and as ever, I look forward to seeing this year's nominations."

Nominations close at the end of May, when a panel of expert judges will shortlist the 12 entries they consider to have shown the most innovation, initiative, and social and environmental investment in their communities.Β 

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ World News will broadcast six 30-minute programmes in October and November 2009, profiling the finalists. Newsweek will mirror the programmes’ content in a six-part series of advertorials about the nominees. Viewers and readers will be invited to vote for their favourites.

The winner of World Challenge 09 will be announced at an awards ceremony in The Hague in December 2009. The ceremony will be broadcast on ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ World News and detailed in Newsweek in the same month.