Previous winners


2008 competition

Winner

Ramu Uyyala from IndiaRamu Uyyala, India

Coming from a low income family, Ramu was educated just to the age of 13. He is now a manufacturer of plastic granules made from recycled plastic, which is used to produce plastic bags. His company has grown so much that he currently employs 40 staff.
Watch a video of Ramu on Youtube


Runners-up

Elijah Daramola from NigeriaElijah Daramola, Nigeria

A poultry farmer who has brought a scientific approach to his work. He has formulated his own seed to produce high quality eggs, and hopes to shortly scale up his production to sell to a food processing company.
Watch a video of Elijah on Youtube

Nuwan Gunasekara from Sri LankaNuwan Gunasekara, Sri Lanka

Nuwan was just 19 years old when he spotted a niche business opportunity. He is a waste recycler who processes coconut refuse into a valuable material for manufacturing to make products such as vases, mattresses and compost.
Watch a video of Nuwan on Youtube

 

2006 competition

Zablon Muthaka from KenyaZablon Karingi Muthaka, Kenya:

Coming from a cosmopolitan slum, and frustrated by the inadequate waste disposal service, Zablon wanted to find and innovative way to improve the health of his community. With this in mind he developed his business idea, disposing   of waste in an environmentally friendly way.