Do you have a big idea that could change the lives of thousands?

- All One Water's profits fund PlayPump water systems

- All One Vitamin Water's profits fund vegetable gardens

- All One Condoms profits fund HIV testing in Africa

One Big Idea are now looking for the next One product to fund humanitarian projects in Malawi.

Entries will be judged by celebrities and entreprenueurs

including BBC Dragons Duncan Bannatyne and Doug Richard, Peter Marks,

The Co-operative Group Chief Executive, and Duncan Goose, award winning

Social Entrepreneur and Founder of One Water amongst others.

The winner will work closely with us to source their product, see

the design roll off the production line and on the shelves in selected

Co-operative stores. An amazing opportunity to change both your life

and the lives of thousands of people in Malawi.

Dawn Butler, Minister for Young Citizens and Youth Engagement will celebrate

Social Enterprise Day, on Thursday19 November, by helping to launch the 'One Big

Idea' competition at St Matthews Academy in Blackheath, London. This visit will

be Dawn Butler's fist official visit in her new role as Cabinet Office Minister

for Young Citizens and Youth Engagement.

'One Big Idea' is run by Enterprise UK, the competition challenges young

people to develop a new product for the brand 'One'. One is owned by the social

enterprise, Global Ethics, producers of 'One water' - a sustainably sourced

bottle of water sold in the UK, with the profits going to Africa to provide

clean water for local people.

Young people will have until February to design a similar product that will

be sold in selected Co-op shops in the UK, the profit from these sales will then

be used to address a social or environmental problem in Malawi. Just like 'One

Water', the idea for the product must be directly related to the issue that

needs addressing.

The Government has invested well over £100 million in promoting social

enterprise, developing the skills of young social entrepreneurs and supporting

social enterprises to access appropriate investment.

Dawn Butler, Minister for Young Citizens and Youth Engagement, said

"'One Big Idea' is a really great concept. There is a lot of untapped energy,

enthusiasm and creativity out there and I am confident that there will not just

be one, but several great ideas that come out of this competition, the challenge

will be to pick the best one.

"Initiatives like this help to shine a spotlight on the young people who are

full of bright ideas about how to make the world a better place; from tackling

climate change to reducing crime and helping people living in developing

countries. I am looking forward to meeting these young social

entrepreneurs."

 

Dawn Butler will be attending the 'One Big Idea'

competition launch between 8.30 - 9.30am on Social Enterprise Day, Thursday 19

November 2009.

photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jongos/2824417587/