2008 SEED Winner, Andaman Discoveries in Thailand, is finalist in the BBC World Challenge
Each year, the BBC World News Limited organises the World Challenge. The competition aims to find projects or small businesses from around the world that have shown enterprise and innovation at a grassroots level. On the 29th of June 2009, the 12 finalists were announced and SEED is delighted that From Relief to Self Reliance (Andaman Discoveries), one of the 2008 SEED Winners, has been selected as one of these finalists.
Andaman Discoveries helps to expand employment opportunities, strengthen local economic and cultural activity and promote sustainable resource management in the Tsunami-affected communities on the Andaman coast through community-based tourism. They offer responsible tours and volunteer placements in the community to visitors who wish to learn about traditional ways of life and who want to contribute to the conservation of this outstanding natural environment. Andaman Discoveries is also looking to protect the traditional cultures of the North Andaman from the ever-present threat of mass tourism and to assist with the long-term economic rehabilitation of the region which was devastated by the tsunami of 2004.
To learn more about Andaman Discoveries' activities, watch the profiles of all the finalists in the World Challenge 09 on BBC World News (details of timings available on the BBC World News Limited Website). You can vote for your favourite project/business online at www.theworldchallenge.co.uk. Voting will open on 28th September 2009 and will close at midnight (GMT) on 13th November 2009.