Pakistani honey project wins World Challenge 08

Dear Friends and Supporters,

It gives us great pleasure to announce that Hashoo Foundation’s “Women Empowerment through Honey Bee Farming Project” – Plan Bee – is the winner of the prestigious BBC

World Challenge 08 Competition.

http://www.theworldchallenge.co.uk/html/index.php

The Hashoo Foundation Team, its Board of Directors, and the Women Beekeepers in the Northern Areas of Pakistan would like to thank you for taking the time to vote and participate

in this remarkable success.  Your contribution will help improve the economic and social well being of the Beekeepers and their families in the remote regions of Pakistan.

http://www.hashoofoundation.org/win_twc.html

The World Challenge 08 Final Competition and Award Ceremony will be broadcast on BBC World News on Sunday, December 21 at 7:30 AM; 3:30 PM; and 9:30 PM Central Time.

Please check the schedule for your Time Zone in the link below.

http://www.bbcworldnews.com/Pages/Schedules.aspx?

The World Challenge Awards Supplement will be published in Newsweek Magazine and will be available on Monday, December 22^nd.

Thank you again for supporting the Hashoo Foundation. Your vote truly made the difference!

With sincere gratitude,

Cristal

Cristal Montañéz Baylor
Executive Director
Hashoo Foundation USA

BBC World News Press Office

Media Centre, 201 Wood Lane, London, W12 7TQ

Pakistani honey project wins World Challenge 08

London, 19 December 2008. This Saturday (20 December) BBC World News broadcasts the final programme of the World Challenge 08 series, announcing Plan Bee as the winner. The Pakistani project helps female beekeepers boost their income by selling high quality honey.

The northern areas of Pakistan are among the poorest and most isolated regions in the country. Effective development assistance has yet to reach these hilly, remote areas and it is the women and children who are most affected. The only workable and sustainable solution is to capitalise on local resources, building on what is achievable as well as culturally acceptable. Established by the Hashoo Foundation, Plan Bee enables honeybee farmers to earn more than twice the price they would in the local market, while making the most of their skills and environment without placing pressure on the local ecosystem.

World Challenge is a major global competition that rewards businesses and projects that put something back into their communities. It is run by BBC World News, the BBC’s international news and information television channel, and Newsweek, the weekly global current affairs magazine, in association with Shell. Now in its fourth year World Challenge is still popular, with more than 71,000 people around the world voting online for their favourite finalist in the 2008 competition.

A special programme airs on BBC World News this weekend, showcasing the awards ceremony hosted by the BBC’s Zeinab Badawi, where Plan Bee receive a US$20,000 prize grant from Shell.

Two runner-up projects are each awarded US$10,000 by Shell. First runner-up is Agriculture School, which trains young people from rural Paraguay how to use sustainable and organic agriculture to generate income. Second runner-up is Shanti Sewa Griha, a Nepalese initiative dedicated to giving leprosy victims and others afflicted by disease and physical disability, a productive place in society.

Paul Gibbs, Head of Programmes, BBC World News says: “The quality of the projects and businesses featured in World Challenge should inspire many other entrepreneurs. Its continued success and popularity demonstrates the increasing international awareness and interest in outstanding global initiatives in the field of sustainable development. BBC World News is extremely proud of World Challenge.”

Rhona Murphy, Publisher and Managing Director, Newsweek International says: “World Challenge 08 has shown that the efforts of ordinary men and women all over the globe can make a huge difference, reinvigorating our communities while helping to restore the Earth. We are proud to collaborate with Shell and BBC World News on this innovative, solution-oriented programme.”

Roxanne Decyk, Director of Corporate Affairs, Shell says: “This year’s winner is a shining example of how a business can harness natural resources in a manner which is sustainable and benefits the wider community. All finalists this year have demonstrated innovative ways of tackling health, employment and environmental challenges in their communities, and World Challenge recognises their achievements. We look forward to continuing to support this inspiring competition.”

ENDS

For further information contact:

BBC World News Press Office

Tel: + 44 208 433 2419

E-mail: bbcworldnewspressoffice@bbc.com

Jan Angilella, Newsweek
Tel:   + 1 212 445 5638
Email: jan.angilella@newsweek.com