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Voting has opened for World Challenge 2010, the worldwide competition which rewards projects and small businesses that have shown enterprise and innovation.

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World News has teamed up with Newsweek and Shell for the sixth World Challenge, to identify and reward people and groups that bring economic, social and environmental benefits to their local communities.

Twelve finalists have been selected from close to 1000 nominations by the judging panel and each of the finalists will be featured in one of six 30 minute programmes to go out on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World News beginning 2 October 2010 and in Newsweek magazine from 4 October 2010.

And there is an extra this year.ÌýLeo Johnson, a sustainable business adviser, is visiting two previous Finalists in Colombia and Kenya to help them develop their enterprises. World Challenge 'Plus' is a response to requests from the businesses for practical guidance on how to boost their profits without compromising their ethical and eco-friendly commitment.

Votes can be cast online at the World Challenge website, , between now and midnight on 12 November 2010 when voting closes.

The winner will receive US$20,000, while two runners up will each receive US$ 10,000.

The winner and runners up will be announced at an award ceremony in the Netherlands and on the website the same day.Ìý A programme showing the ceremony will be transmitted on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World News on 4 December 2010. There will also be a profile in Newsweek magazine in the 21 December 2010 issue, which will be available on the 14 December 2010.

World Challenge began in 2005 and has already inspired passion and enthusiasm around the world, propelling enterprising projects and businesses into the spotlight. Since 2005, financial grants have been given to 15 projects worldwide.

Last year's winner was the Safe Bottle Lamp Project, Dr Wijaya Godakumbura's  mission to stop the horrific, and totally avoidable, injuries caused by unsafe kerosene lamps in Sri Lanka.

The 12 finalists for World Challenge 2010 are:

Cyper Capital: MYC4, Denmark;

Ok Coral: Chumbe Island Coral Park, Tanzania;

Pass It On: Sierra Productiva, Peru;

Double-Boiled: Jompy Stove, Kenya;

Growth Cycle: Bamboosero, Zambia;

A Class Apart: Tecnico Maya Vocational School, Guatemala;

Burn After Eating: Husk Power Systems, India;

The Only Way is Up: AID Foundation Inc, Philippines;

One Reef at a Time: Blue Ventures, Madagascar;

Saving From A Rainy Day: Isla Urbana, Mexico

The Little Shop of Light: e:quinox, Rawanda

In a Nutshell: The Full Belly Project, Malawi.

Full details of all the projects can be found at the World Challenge Website

About ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World News
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³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World News, the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s commercially funded international 24-hour news and information channel, is owned and operated by ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World News Ltd, a member of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳’s commercial group of companies.Ìý ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World News is available in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, and reaches 306 million households and more than 1.8 million hotel rooms.Ìý The channel's content is also available on 87 cruise ships, 40 airlines, 39 mobile phone networks and a number of major online platforms including .Ìý For further information on how to receive ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World News, download schedules or find out more about the channel, visit .Ìý