Vote for The Heiveld Cooperative - small-scale farmers getting a fair price for their organic Roobios tea

The voting lines are open:

• Click here to vote (closes Nov 22, 2008)
• Read this letter below from Heiveld explaining why they entered the competition
• Read more about Rooibos tea and the people who make it

From: Heiveld Marketing
Sent: Thu 11/09/2008 20:10
Subject: BBC World Challenge Broadcast
 
Dear Trade Aid

It is with great joy and excitement that the Heiveld Co-operative Ltd would like to announce that we are one of the 12 finalists in the BBC World Challenge 2008.

http://www.theworldchallenge.co.uk/html/home.html

World Challenge 08 is a global competition aimed at finding projects or small businesses from around the world that have shown enterprise and innovation at a grass roots level and displayed social entrepreneurship in making a difference without costing the earth.

We submitted an entry early this year, and were very pleased to make it through the selection process to the final 12. This comes at a time when the Co-op has grown in membership and production, and has built a store at the tea court.

However, competition in the market from large scale producers is very fierce, and we need all the help we can get to market our fine product. We also urgently need to build a second tea court to cope with the bigger volumes of tea. Winning the competition will help us to achieve this.

World Challenge 08 is sponsored by BBC World News and Newsweek, in association with Shell, and is about championing and rewarding projects and business which really make a difference. The winner will receive a grant of USD $20,000 to put back into their business, and two runners up will each receive USD $10,000. One representative from each of the three finalists will be flown to The Hague, The Netherlands to attend the award ceremony in December 2008.

We would like to ask you to support the Heiveld in the competition, and to think about how best to use this great opportunity to promote the Heiveld and its products.

The Heiveld Co-operative was one of hundreds of entries and made it to the last 12. Since the Heiveld was selected as a finalist the BBC has produced a film about the Co-op, and along with those of the other finalists this is due to be screened on BBC World Service on 11th October (and thereafter re-broadcast up to 4 times over a weekly cycle). There will be two finalists per 22' programme, with each story running at approximately the same length.

As soon as the transmissions begin, one minute video vignettes of all 12 finalists will go live on the http://www.theworldchallenge.co.uk website.   At the same time, the site will be
activated to take votes.

Even though the BBC has announced that the first broadcast of the programme featuring the Heiveld is scheduled to go out on the 11th October, this may be subject to change. If you would like to know exactly when the transmissions will be in your time zone please go on to the BBC World News website and key in the name of your country to find the dates and timings for your time zone.

The BBC has informed us that it is within the rules to urge potential voters to support the Heiveld. Not all potential voters watch the BBC international service or read Newsweek, but may nevertheless go on line and vote.

It would mean a great deal to us if Heiveld clients could support us in the voting process as soon as the transmissions begin. Please pass on this mail to others who may be interested in the Heiveld story, and who might be willing to vote for the Heiveld. 

I hope that we can all make a difference by voting for the Heiveld!!

With Heiveld Greetings,
Hendrik Hesselman
Chairperson, on behalf of all Heiveld members

For any queries please contact:
Petricia Buchsenstein
Marketing Manager
Telephone: ++27 (0)27 218 1318
E mail: marketing@heiveld.co.za
Website:  http://www.heiveld.co.za