Today The Vodafone Foundation announces six outstanding individuals who will put their jobs on-hold for a year and take their skills and passion to work for their favourite charities. The ‘World of Difference’ winners include a barrister who will work with African prisoners and a London PA who cares for AIDS orphaned children.

In July, The Foundation announced that it would offer the opportunity to support four individuals with £25,000 towards their outgoings as well as £20,000 in expenses. Now, following a huge response from hundreds of inspirational candidates, The Foundation has decided to select six winners instead of the planned four.

Nick Read, CEO of Vodafone UK commented: “We were bowled over by the calibre and number of entries The Foundation received - choosing the finalists was a tough decision. We’re all delighted to be able to offer these outstanding individuals the opportunity to make a huge difference within the charities they have chosen. Seeing the successes that other World of Difference winners have accomplished around the globe I am certain that they will all achieve great things during the forthcoming year.”

“It is inspiring to hear the dedication and passion that these individuals have. Now, with the support of The Vodafone Foundation, these charities will be able to extend their reach or embark on new projects that might not previously have been possible,” said Oscar-nominated actress Samantha Morton, an advocate of the programme.

The six winners are:

Alexander McLean – African Prisons Project
Alexander set up African Prisons Project to improve the welfare, health and education of detainees in some African prisons. This includes work to establish an education facility in a women's prison and to build a day-care centre for the children of offenders.

Miguel D Ramirez – SolarAid
Through the programme, the London based Texan will now research renewable sources of energy with SolarAid, whose work includes training local communities to modify devices, such as kerosene lamps, to use solar power.

Lucy Calson – Msizi Africa
PA at one of the world’s largest property advisers, Lucy set up Msizi Africa in her spare time, raising £30,000 to help relieve the hardship of children in Africa where the AIDS pandemic has left many children without any family.

Naomi Glass – Spitalfields City Farm
Dedicating the last nine years of her life to working with different charities, Naomi will work with the City Farm to extend its reach to educating disadvantaged young people and their parents, including those who find classroom-based learning a challenge.

Jean Westmascott – Cerebral Palsy Africa
Through her training as a nurse, Jean has developed a holistic approach to working with people including those with cerebral palsy. Jean, who lives in Hampshire, will now work full-time for one year with Scottish charity Cerebral Palsy Africa to establish a training/resource centre in the UK and link with key people in Africa.

Andrew Lamb – Engineers Without Borders UK
Andrew, a Cambridge graduate, will now lead the new UK arm of the organisation to obtain more funding and place engineers on voluntary projects to help relieve poverty worldwide.

Vodafone’s network of foundations currently runs World of Difference programmes in Albania, Australia, The Czech Republic, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, New Zealand and Spain. Other Foundations will launch programmes imminently.

Notes to Editors

Biographies of the winners are available on request.

Each World of Difference award is subject to final employment agreements between the winner and their chosen charity, and the grant agreement between The Vodafone Foundation and the charity.

The World of Difference programme included consultation during the judging process with both external charities, Vodafone employees and board directors of Vodafone UK and Vodafone Group Plc.

About The Vodafone Foundation (www.vodafonefoundation.org)

The Vodafone Foundation has invested over £100 million in projects since its creation in 2002 concentrating on disaster relief, helping disadvantaged children via sport and music initiatives and specific projects across Vodafone's 23 local Foundations worldwide. The Vodafone Foundation receives funding from both Vodafone UK and Vodafone Group Plc.

For further information please contact:

Helen Brockett or Katherine Danby
The Vodafone Foundation
07500 032886 or 07795047471
Helen.brockett@vodafone.com
Katherine.danby@vodafone.com

Katie Davies/Lucy Kemp
Shine Communications
020 7100 7100
Katie.davies@shinecom.com/lucy.kemp@shinecom.com