About AshokaBuilding a world where everyone is a changemaker
Our Vision for the World:
Ashoka envisions a world where
everyone is a changemaker. A world
where everyone can embrace their
agency, live with dignity, has the skills
to solve problems, and creates
positive change for the common
good.
Let’s build this more resilient,
sustainable, and equitable future,
together.
What We DoAshoka builds and cultivates a community of change
leaders who see that the world now requires everyone to
be a changemaker. We are pioneering the Everyone a
Changemaker world through our programs and networks
in more than 90 countries, building and amplifying this
global movement in three stages…
Identify and support the world’s leading social entrepreneurs
We find and cultivate social entrepreneurs in every corner of the
world, whose system-changing innovations solve deep-rooted
social problems.
After a rigorous application process, we invite them into the
Ashoka Fellowship - providing early stage financial support and a
lifetime membership into an expansive network of peers and
partners - enabling them to achieve their vision and have even
greater impact.
We then draw on the insights and patterns of these 3,500+
Ashoka Fellows to understand what the future needs and how to
create new solutions for building a better world.
Learn more about Ashoka Fellows
#1
https://www.ashoka.org/en-us/ashoka-fellows
Equip everyone to be a changemaker
We inspire and enable changemaking in the public-at-
large, and work to give all citizens the confidence and
tools to solve problems for the good of all.
Specifically, we focus on preparing the next generation to
navigate this rapidly-changing world by ensuring all
young people have the critical skills they need. Through
partnerships, we engage young people, parents,
educators, and institutions to redefine what success looks
like for growing up in today’s world.
Read more about why we are
transforming youth years
#2
https://socialinnovationsjournal.org/editions/issue-52/75-disruptive-innovations/2912-what-top-social-entrepreneurs-are-telling-us-early-changemaking-stays-with-you-for-a-lifetime
Accelerate the “Everyonea Changemaker” world
We mobilize a network of organizations to join
us in shifting mindsets and reshaping how we
learn, work, and live together to catalyze
changemaking for the good of society.
We partner with schools, universities,
corporations, citizen sector organizations,
media, and other influencers to co-lead this
movement with us.
Read more about what it means to live in an
Everyone a Changemaker World
#3
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/08/opinion/changemaker-social-entrepreneur.html
Changing systems is powerful; changing minds is transformative.
Framework Change
Systems Change
Scaled Direct Service
Direct Service
Changing systems
is powerful;
changing minds is
transformative
How we change the world
Systems change means
scaling social impact
by addressing systems,
not symptoms.
Read our Embracing Complexity report for more information on the business case to fund system changing approaches.
https://www.ashoka.org/en/embracing-complexity
A Closer Look:Ashoka Objective #1: Identify and support the
world’s leading social entrepreneurs through
the Ashoka Fellowship
Ashoka CEO and Founder
Bill Drayton
“Social entrepreneurs are not content just to give a fish or teach how to fish. They will not rest until they have revolutionized the fishing industry.”
North
America
331
Europe
613
Latin
America
1044
Africa
472
Middle East
and North
Africa
123Asia
1039
Ashoka
Offices
Worldwide
Argentina
Austria
Bangladesh
Brazil
Canada
Chile
Egypt
France
Germany
Greece
India
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Kenya
Mexico
Netherlands
Nigeria
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Senegal
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Thailand
Turkey
United Kingdom
USA
Venezuela
AshokaFel low
Distr ibutionAround the
World
Ashoka Fellows set new paradigms at a global scale
KAILASH SATYARTHI -GoodWeave
Nobel Peace Prize Winner addressing
child labour around the world.
SUE RIDDLESTONE -Bioregional
Global leader of the sustainability movement,
advancing the cause of responsible consumption.
ELI BEER –United Hatzalah Revolutionizing
emergency response and uniting religious
communities in Israel.
DR. GLADYS KALEMA –Conservation through
Public HealthRenowned conservationist pioneering a new form of coexistence of Uganda's wildlife, livestock, and
communities.
Wikipedia FounderAshoka Fellow, 2008Radically democratized the act of information sharing
Jimmy Wales
Ashoka is a living encyclopedia of social innovation in every field around the world.
13
Ashoka Fellowship
Nomination
National
evaluation
Panel review
incl. externals
Board
review
International
evaluation
2
4
1
3
5
SELECTION CRITERIA
SELECTION PROCESS
Entrepreneurial approach
New idea
Candidates have a new solution or approach to a social problem, which
changes the pattern in a field.
Social impact
The candidate's idea has to be new and cause people working in
the field to adopt it and turn it into the new norm.
Ethical Fiber
Social entrepreneurs have to be trusted across different stakeholder
groups to inspire major structural changes to society.
Creativity
Successful social entrepreneurs are problem solvers who
translate visions into reality.
Candidates are willing to grapple relentlessly with many practical
challenges
of Fellows have seen their work replicated by outside groups
of Fellows have influenced public policy
of Fellows report their idea focuses on societal mindset and cultural change
of Fellows have altered market systems
of Fellows report that Ashoka helped increase their impact
90%
93%
97%
93%
84%
Impact with Ashoka
Download the full Unlonely Planet Impact Report.
https://www.ashoka.org/en-us/story/2018-global-study-finds-ashoka-fellows-change-policy-market-dynamics-and-how-people-think
A Closer Look:Ashoka Objective #2: Equip everyone to be a
changemaker, including young people. This
means reimagining success in growing up.
The majority of Ashoka Fellows started their changemaking journey by joining someone else’s social change efforts before the age of 21.
48 percent of Fellows started and led their own initiatives during their teenage years.
65%
48%
77%
Early Changemaking Lasts a Lifetime
Download the full Unlonely Planet Impact Report
Our search for social entrepreneurs has been, at its heart, a quest to find and amplify patterns of innovation and insights for systems change.
Of the Ashoka Fellows working with young people, 77 percent reported that they put them in charge of leading initiatives within their own organizations.
https://www.ashoka.org/en-us/story/2018-global-study-finds-ashoka-fellows-change-policy-market-dynamics-and-how-people-think
Ashoka Fellows uplift younger generations to be changemakers
DAQUAN OLIVER -WeThrive
Engaging teachers, and instructors of schools and
community organizations in the US to recruit students and tap their entrepreneurial energy, promote the development of problem-solving habits, and
cultivate self-confidence.
ALI KHAN -YES Network Pakistan
Unlocking the changemaking potential of thousands of young people
across Pakistan through reforming campus culture and youth programming.
KRITAYA SREESUNPAGIT- Why I
Why FoundationNurturing young leaders in Thailand to articulate new
ideas for social development and connects them to the resources and
skills they need to bring their ideas to life.
RAQUEL ROSENBERG-Engajamundo
Connecting young people who want to work together in a non-
hierarchical and respectful environment to develop new solutions for global
problems across Latin America.
https://www.ashoka.org/en-us/fellow/daquan-oliverhttps://www.ashoka.org/en-us/story/ali-changemaker-journeyhttps://www.ashoka.org/en-us/fellow/kritaya-sreesunpagithttps://www.ashoka.org/en-us/fellow/kritaya-sreesunpagit
Young changemakers are leading us forward
Read more examples of young changemaking
Ashoka does not offer a universal model of youth engagement programming. Instead, Ashoka has a commitment to creating space for young people in unique ways to embrace their changemaking power and activate that power in their peers and communities.
https://www.ashoka.org/en-us/collection/stories-young-changemaking
Redefining success for growing up
A story of a changemaker
A story of changemaker education
A story of raising changemakers
https://www.ashoka.org/en-us/collection/stories-young-changemakinghttps://www.ashoka.org/en-us/collection/stories-young-changemakinghttps://www.ashoka.org/en-us/collection/stories-young-changemaking
A Closer Look:Ashoka Objective #3: Accelerate the “Everyone
a Changemaker World through partnerships
across sectors and industries
Large-scale change
necessitates large-scale
collaboration.
Aleta and Primary Education
In the United States, Ashoka Fellow Aleta Margolis is teaming with the American Federation of Teachers to mainstream practices pioneered in her demonstration school. Together, they seek to nurture changemaking skills in children across the country.
Aleta Margolis, Founder, Center for Inspired TeachingAshoka Fellow, 2001
Learn more about Aleta and the Center for Inspired Teaching
https://www.ashoka.org/en-CH/fellow/aleta-Margolis
Place Holder
In India, Hilmi has teamed with Philips and Save the Children on a mobile storytelling campaign as the backbone of "last-mile” childhood pneumonia prevention and testing. This is one piece of an Ashoka-Philips effort to better align social impact and business strategy.
Hilmi Quraishi, Founder ZMQAshoka Fellow, 2008
Hilmi and Healthcare
Learn more about Hilmi and the Ashoka-Philips partnership
https://www.ashoka.org/en-us/story/hilmi-quraishi-philips-foundation-accelerate-health-all
In West Africa, Dramane leads 16 other Ashoka Fellows that teamed to launch ICON, an umbrella brand and distribution platform for locally-sourced, nutrient-rich foods. Together, they’re working with CTA to fight malnutrition in the face of climate pressures, while providing nutritional education to farmers and African consumers.
Dramane Coulibaly, Founder CESAOAshoka Fellow, 2011
Dramane, Climate, and Nutrition
Learn more about Dramane and his social entrepreneurship journey
https://www.ashoka.org/en-us/fellow/dramane-coulibaly
The power of partnership
Partnering with leading companies, industries, and civil society organizations is
critical in order to build a world where everyone feels powerful. We are in this
together.
1. Fabric of Change with C&A Foundation
2. Making More Health with Boehringer-Ingelheim
3. Changemaker Challenge with T-Mobile
4. Future Forward with Mastercard Foundation
5. Reimagining Learning Challenge with Lego Foundation
Ashoka launched Fabric of Change in partnership with C&A Foundation in 2015: A 3-year global initiative to unlock the unique power
and potential of social entrepreneurs and their solutions to advance a shared vision of a fair and sustainable apparel industry in which
people are empowered and the planet is respected.
• Ran an accelerator program for 11 established social entrepreneurs
to develop scaling-up/ open growth strategies (Globalizer program).
• Started to create a community of social entrepreneurs and like-
minded changemakers across sectors through 3 inspiring
collaborative events and online platforms.
• Reaching 1,300 industry professionals through Fabric of Change
linkedin group
• Through this community, we raised over €650,000 of investment
directly in the projects of the social entrepreneurs.
• Mapping innovation trends across the value chain
(production – manufacture – consumption) surfacing barriers
to social innovation and approaches to unlock social impact
• Identified over 350 projects that change the industry around
the world through an online Changemaker Challenge (open
source online call for applications and collaborative platform).
• Selected 29 high-impact social entrepreneurs who actively
develop solutions to societal challenges linked to the apparel
industry including 8 new Ashoka Fellows who benefit from a
3-year stipend and a lifelong support through the Ashoka
network.
Social Impact
Fabric of Change: Innovating for a sustainable apparel industry
Since 2011, Ashoka has been working with Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) on a global, multi-year, multi-million partnership to
promote healthy communities, called Making More Health. This partnership enabled BI better understand the shifting
landscape of health care and the new paradigm to unlock social impact in the sector: Moving care outside of clinics and
hospitals and placing health in the hands of communities and individuals.
• Support to 350 young
people in achieving
their health ventures
• Identified 750 social
innovations in
healthcare via an online
Changemaker challenge
• 37 Countries
• 90+ Ashoka
Fellows selected
worldwide
• 5000+ employees
engaged
• Laboratory of new
innovative
business models
• Raised $4.3m
finance for 4 health
ventures
Social Impact Developing Changemaking Skills
27
Making More Health: Creating meaningful social impact through individual agency and community empowerment
Making More Health supports thousands of BI employees to develop their
intrapreneurial, Changemaking Skills through global opportunities. MMH also
encouraged BI employees to lead and innovate by building new business opportunities
and bridging the social and business sectors.
Programmes supported by Ashoka included: Executive in Residence programme, Youth
Venture and an online professional development course ‘Social Intrapreneurship for
Innovations in Health’. These engaged 1000+ BI employees and 2000+ young people.
In total, more than 5000 employees connected to the MMH network since 2011.
28
Since 2018, we have partnered with T-Mobile (both Corporate and the Foundation) to reimagine the way young
people grow up and connect with one another. For T-Mobile, the Changemaker Challenge is an annual
transformation as the company is on its own changemaker journey to re-think their work differently and see young
people as collaborators. The partnership involved the following objectives:
1. Movement Building with the Changemaker
Challenge
• This annual challenge gives young
changemakers visibility and support from a
company aligned with Ashoka's vision. Besides
mobilizing young changemakers across the
country, we took over T-Mobile's HQ in Seattle
through a 3-day community and movement
building experience – the Changemaker Lab.
• Mobilized Young Changemakers across the
country – with over 420 changemaker teams
participating from 41 states (plus Puerto Rico).
• We are building a diverse and representative
network of young changemakers while
mapping key trends and issues among young
people (see full story) in the fields of education,
environment and technology.
2. Corporate Transformation through Employee Engagement
• Over 70 top-level managers and executives joined us to give
feedback on project pitches and guidance on challenges the
youth are experiencing. Some executives that attended were:
President and COO, EVP of Communications, EVP of Human
Resources, EVP of Sales, and EVP of Internal Communications.
• Over 50 employees participated reviewing applications, and
many more joined to be mobilized and inspired via the
pitches. changemaker family workshops (YourKids, Dream it, Do
it workshops) and other opportunities.
• Employees of T-Mobile experienced how to be changemakers
themselves and how to foster changemaking for the young
people in their lives. At the same time, parents of all the
changemaker teams connected and learned from each
other through a workshop in what one of them called the most
“transformational experience of their life”.
Activating Changemakers: Fostering a culture of changemaking with young people at the center
https://medium.com/change-maker/changemaking-trends-from-400-young-people-across-the-us-de5bf22fa5f
For more than six years, Future Forward identified and supported social entrepreneurs and young changemakers with
innovative solutions for youth employment in sub-Saharan Africa. From this engagement we saw exponential increases in the
impact of the 25 Fellows supported through the partnerships including the capacity and network support for work that led to
more than 233,000 young people accessing new livelihoods.
• Support to 240 young people and youth development
practitioners connected through a six-week online course on
the Future of Work in Africa
• 195 young changemakers identified working to solve
employment in their communities through an online challenge
• Through innovation trends analysis, identified 6 paradigm
shifts for transforming youth employment and leadership,
incorporated in the Innovation Guide: Youth Unstuck:
Innovations for Youth Livelihoods and Leadership
• Selected 25 Ashoka Fellows in 10 countries transforming
youth employment in the communities in which they work.
• Provided them with capital, capacity support, and
networking opportunities.
• Over 76% of the Fellows report creating policy change,
which resulted in securing employment for over 230,000
African youth.
• 491,447 youth direct beneficiaries reached
Social Impact
29
Future Forward: Transforming youth employment in sub-Saharan Africa
30
From 2014-17, LEGO Foundation and Ashoka worked together to transform learning around the world by connecting brands
and leveraging respective strengths. The partnership was based on the concept of ‘Reimaging Learning’ – i.e. the common belief
in changing ways of learning so that children can be playful and develop their passions, creativity, curiosity, and imagination. The
partnership involved the following objectives:
1. Identify, support, and accelerate social
entrepreneurs with system-changing ideas to
transform learning:
• Ashoka Fellows selected in 26 countries,
and engaged them in Ashoka’s global
networks
• 30 leaders activated in a network that is
setting a new standard for enriched learning
for children and young adults, using
expertise of local organizations, business and
social entrepreneurs and public sector
officials.
2. Map the landscape of learning innovation and build a network of
changemakers to transform the field.
• Knowledge toolkit mapping the landscape of existing
innovations related to creative learning, including barriers and
opportunities.
• Reimagine Learning Globalizer matched 16 social
entrepreneurs with 3-4 advisors over a 12-week advisory
process, to develop their systems change vision and scale their
impact.
• 20,000 social media shares of articles published during our
campaign
• 2015 LEGO Idea Conference showcased the work of 10 Re-
imagine Learning Champions and increased their visibility
• #play2learn theme influenced work at UNICEF and the
University of Cambridge
• Multi-million-dollar support unlocked for Ashoka’s work in
education
Re-Imagine Learning: Re-thinking learning for the 21st century—at home, in schools, everywhere.
https://www.changemakers.com/sites/default/files/ashokalego_-_social_entrepreneurs_re-imagine_learning.pdf
Jeanine Buzali
Changemaker Companies LeaderNorth [email protected]
CONTACT
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