Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation's Ram Pump Project Wins World Challenge

The World Challenge 2010 is a competition organized by BBC World News Limited aimed at finding projects or small businesses from around the world that have shown enterprise and innovation at a grass roots level. The program, which is co-sponsored by Shell, is about championing and rewarding projects and businesses that really make a difference.

This year, Philippines-based Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation, Inc.'s (AIDFI) Ram Pump Project has emerged as the winner of this challenge.

The challenge saw the innovative use of a hydraulic pump, an instrument that was invented centuries ago, where water was pushed uphill without any other energy input using the river’s flow itself. This innovation was of great advantage to poor villagers living in mountainous areas.

The ram pump is estimated to save both hours of back-breaking work carrying water and cash where expensive water pumps are replaced. AIDFI has introduced the ram pump to over 170 upland villages in Philippines, and has plans to spread the benefits far and wide among poor communities.

Now in its sixth year, World Challenge is more popular than ever with more than 167,000 people around the world voting online for their favorite finalist – up 40,000 on last year's votes. This year, the challenge received more than 800 submissions from over 70 countries. Being the winner, AIDFI’s Ram Pump project is slated to receive $20,000 prize grant from Shell. Two runner-up projects will each be awarded $10,000 by Shell.

“World Challenge underlines international support for individuals and groups showing an entrepreneurial approach to environmental and community-driven projects. We hope that through World Challenge, more people will be inspired to put similar ideas into action,” commented Rhona Murphy, publisher and managing director of Newsweek International, in a release.