We’re really excited to announce our 2010/11 World of Difference winners.

Thank you to all of those people who spent the time to submit an application, the Vodafone Foundation gained an incredible insight into the scale of passion, innovation and enthusiasm that continues to drive the non-for-profit sector, both for larger organisations as well as many smaller or start-up charities.

The five program winners for this year demonstrated they have the skill, passion and dedication that’s required to make a significant and lasting impact to their organisation and to the broader community. This was combined with an exciting project they had defined that they are going to deliver throughout their year.

Now in its seventh year, the World of Difference program has already helped 24 graduates and financed over 47,000 hours of charity work.

The program is unique to Australia and remains the only community investment program in the country giving Australians the opportunity to work for their nominated charity, fully funded and supported for a year.

This years winner are;

• Kristina Karasulas (Sydney, NSW), will work for not-for-profit charity Gunawirra, an organisation with the aim of ensuring the growth and development of Aboriginal children

• Mort Shearer (Port Macquarie, NSW), will work for Australians Men’s Sheds Association, an organisation that supports mens sheds across Australia. Mens’ Sheds are a community based voluntary workshops where men work shoulder to shoulder on community projects in a relaxed environment where they can learn about their own health and wellbeing.

• Jade McKenzie (Melbourne, VIC), will work for Australia’s only charitable organisation focused on helping young adults with cancer, The Warwick Foundation

• Grace McQuilten (Melbourne, VIC), will use the year to develop the organisation she founded in December 2009, The Social Studio, a not-for-profit enterprise in clothing design and retail providing employment for refugee Australians.

• Ellen Sandell (Flemington, VIC), has chosen to work for the Australian Youth Climate Coalition to tackle political apathy and rally young Australians to take serious action against climate change