The Full Belly Project needs your vote in the BBC World Challenge.

The BBC World Challenge is a global competition aimed at finding projects or small businesses from around the world that have shown enterprise and innovation at a grassroots level.   Three organizations will be rewarded for their efforts to improve the lives of others with their non-profit endeavors around the world.  Initially one among 800, then one among the “Shortlist 35”, the Full Belly Project is now among the “Final 12”, from which the “3 Winners” will be chosen on December 4, 2010.  The monetary awards range from $10,000 to $20,000 depending on the number of votes received from the public.

Please view http://www.youtube.com/user/OnePlanetPictures#p/u/5/6aLEfNFEbuQ to see the BBC/PlanetOne film production of the Full Belly Project video.  To vote, click http://www.theworldchallenge.co.uk/ and Vote for “In a Nutshell Malawi”! Don’t look for a red push pin in North Carolina, look for it in  Malawi.  Or, go to the 2010 Finalists tab and click on the third image, Malawi, in the bottom right.  Voting ends November 12, 2010 so don’t delay.

The BBC video presents only the universal nut sheller (UNS) as our device to improve life in rural communities but we also have many more patented tools such as 1) a peanut crusher for peanut oil and peanut butter manufacturing; 2) a simple, hand-washing station for use at homes and schools that saves water and reduces disease; 3) an efficient, user-friendly “rocker” water pump for irrigation; 4) a patented water distribution device that lifts stream water uphill for crops and livestock; 5) a corn-crusher to prepare food for chicken consumption; 6) a deep-well boring device for water; 7) a rope pump for manual operation of deep well water supplies; and many other devices still in the developmental stages.

Your vote can mean a great deal toward our receipt of one of those three awards and world-wide exposure and recognition.  Our volunteers are local – a few technical-type adults, along with professionals who are passionate about the Full Belly mission and vision, as well as a lot of high-school and college students who gain wonderful levels of training and experience outside of their traditional school experiences.  These students also demonstrate their commitment to the global world in which we live.  Thank you.