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Corporate Social Responsibility
News
11.29.2006 - 01:23pm ET
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2006 Alcan Prize for Sustainability Awarded to India's Barefoot College
(CSRwire) NEW DELHI, INDIA, November 29, 2006 -- Alcan and the International
Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) are pleased to announce that the winner of
the 2006 US$1 million Alcan Prize for Sustainability is India's Barefoot
College. The Alcan Prize annually recognizes NGOs, not-for-profit, and
civil society organizations working to build sustainable societies around
the world. The Alcan Prize is managed independently by the IBLF.
"We are very pleased to congratulate the Barefoot College as the winner of
the third annual Alcan Prize for Sustainability," said Daniel Gagnier,
Senior Vice President, Corporate and External Affairs, Alcan Inc. "The
Barefoot College makes a valuable contribution to India's rural and
impoverished citizens by providing them with necessary and practical
skills to improve their communities," he added.
Since 1972, Barefoot College has improved the lives of India's poorest
people by emphasizing practical knowledge and skills over paper
qualifications through a learning-by-doing process of education. Barefoot
addresses the issues of drinking water, female education, health and
sanitation, rural unemployment, income generation, electricity and power,
as well as social awareness and the conservation of ecological systems in
rural communities.
"The Alcan Prize is a validation of Barefoot's community-based model of
development. The strength of our organization is a testament to the will
power and hard work of our students. Their abilities are a constant source
of inspiration," said Bunker Roy, Barefoot College Executive Director.
Located in Tilonia in India's northwest Rajasthan state, the Barefoot
College was selected from a field of almost 200 entries from 55 countries
around the world by an international adjudication panel of distinguished
experts on sustainability.
"The Barefoot College has created an inspirational ripple effect in rural
India and communities in other countries through its innovative work in
demonstrating how empowerment, grass roots technology and education
enables people to promote sustainable communities and better control their
destinies," said Robert Davies, IBLF Chief Executive Officer.
"The Barefoot College is a remarkable organization that impressed and
inspired us with their sustainable impact on environmental, economic,
social and cultural issues. They have effected great change through strong
leadership and partnerships, which coupled with their grassroots approach
serves to empower the poorest of the poor," added David Runnalls, Chairman
of the adjudication panel and President and CEO of International Institute
for Sustainable Development.
In addition to the Alcan Prize, the Adjudication Panel also awards
US$15,000 Alcan Grants to enable finalist organizations to build capacity
in cross-sector partnerships through a program coordinated by Cambridge
University in the U.K. The 2006 Alcan Grant winners are:
Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung (DSW), Germany
Naandi Foundation, India
Fundación del Empresariado Chihuahuense, Mexico
Sustainable Energy Africa, South Africa
Instituto Terra, Brazil
Previous winners of the Alcan Prize include the Forest Stewardship Council
(2004) and the Aga Khan Planning and Building Services Pakistan (2005).
Alcan Inc. (NYSE, TSX: AL) is a leading global materials company,
delivering high quality products and services worldwide. With world-class
technology and operations in bauxite mining, alumina processing, primary
metal smelting, power generation, aluminum fabrication, engineered
solutions as well as flexible and specialty packaging, today's Alcan is
well positioned to meet and exceed its customers' needs. Alcan is
represented by 65,000 employees in 61 countries and regions, and posted
revenues of $20.3 billion in 2005. The Company has featured on the Dow
Jones Sustainability World Index consecutively since 2003. For more
information, please visit: www.alcan.com.
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