Professional Documents
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Ashoka Fellow Welcome Packet
Ashoka Fellow Welcome Packet
Ashoka Fellow Bart Weetjens
(Tanzania) and his colleagues
at Apopo train ‘Hero Rats’
to detect land mines and
tuberculosis. Light weight and
intelligent, rats are even more
effective than dogs.
You were elected as an Ashoka Fellow for your capacity to solve the world’s most
pressing problems, and your ability to generate change and inspire new
Changemakers. Now you belong to the Ashoka Fellowship: an international community
of 2,000 individuals like you. Each of you is moving your communities in unprecedented
ways, and together we form an incredible network of citizen sector organizations,
powerful allies, and a vast array of other supporters.
5
New Fellows from around
Africa and Ashoka staff meet
at the Pan- Africa Meeting
Orientation and Induction.
South Africa 2007.
Spread Social
Entrepreneurship
2 Share strategies
Other Ashoka Fellows have gone through the same trials as you have,
Through Access Dinners you can influence
leaders such as the Colombian First Lady, the
Ex-President of Chile, HRH The Prince of
whether it be challenges with fundraising or marketing strategies. Wales, to advocate for Social
You will find that you have complimentary skills that you can share Entrepreneurship, and participate in their
and learn from one another, and develop joint solutions to networks by connecting with them.
cross-cutting social and organizational issues. Attend and lead Ashoka Fellows in Mexico
in Access Dinner with
programs with other Fellows through Ashoka's: musician Bono of U2.
An entrepreneur's Sandbox social divide through computer centers) into her own
would increase her impact. Vicky obtained collabora-
tions funds to train with Rodrigo and replicate his
Together Ashoka and Deshpande model in Colombia.
Foundation are creating a ‘sandbox’ in
Funding Levels North Karnataka: an arena where Ashoka
Fellows (and later other local social
To date:
· Vicky secured $50,000 in external funding.
entrepreneurs) are able to replicate their · She opened 4 computer centers in Colombia.
Fellow-Led Collaboration Funds ideas, collaborate with each other (plus local · 430 people have benefitted in the last 6 months.
Ashoka Fellows Nicolás Hernandez
Fellow-led collaborations -- receive up to government bodies, academia and (Colombia), Mercedez de Freitas
$10,000 when collaborating with other business) and benefit from (Venezuela) and Gustavo Candia
Fellows on a theme of your choice. Contact support by Ashoka and Deshpande. (Argentina) with Andrés Hernandez
our collaborations team to get more (Transparency International) and
2
Victoria Emanuelli (Ashoka) after a long
information on deadlines and how to apply. day of work on the Integrity Systems
Shivaram Pailoor (India) is integrating the
Combine your innovation with another Collaboration.
Fellow's to create new solutions
3
work of his CAAM -- Center for Alternative Ashoka Fellow Amy Jeffe Barzach builds inclusive
Seeded Collaboration Investments Agricultural Media -- into the work of the playgrounds for children with disabilities in the USA; Jointly overcoming cross-cutting obstacles
Investor-led collaborations guided by Ashoka other Fellows and will develop its portfolio, Five Ashoka Fellows from across Latin America recognized that in
while in Peru, Fellow Juan Carlos Aguilar builds toys
based on observed trends and critical global services and clientele. that stimulate creativity. When they met, they saw an fighting corruption, they had to target its most insidious form:
challenges. Themes, number of Fellows and opportunity to impact their organizations and the sector quotidian corruption such as bribes and biases that
amounts vary. in a powerful way – they used collaboration funds to disproportionately affect marginalized citizens. To tackle this
design toys that stimulate the creativity of children with challenge they partnered with Indian business entrepreneur
disabilities. Narayana Murthy and Transparency International and produced a
toolkit that documents their strategies for “Fighting Corruption at
the Local Level." This document will be published and distributed
Ayyappa Masagi (India) is spreading his globally by Ashoka and Transparency International as a guide for
water literacy project to the cities and villages local governments and citizen sector organizations.
in the sandbox, including rainwater Ashoka Fellows in Indonesia, Thailand, and India will add their
harvesting, water-friendly landscaping innovations via a series of workshops on integrity systems hosted
and a water awareness campaign. throughout 2008.
Did you know that Ashoka has established programs in over 60 countries around the world?
10 11
Are you prepared to influence Are you being threatened?
public policy? Check out Ashoka’s Law for All Workshops.
Access security support through Ashoka.
Law for All Workshops give you the opportunity to influence law and public It can be dangerous to be an agent of social change. Ashoka’s Fellow
policy in your country. Law for All draws on Ashoka Fellows’ innovations and Security program helps you stay safe by preparing you for security
insights on how to build a global society in which everyone may enjoy equity, emergencies and connecting you to a support network when
justice, and social inclusion as full citizens. emergencies do happen.
2 Emergency Support:
when danger strikes
Ashoka can connect you with regional and inter-
national human rights networks who can send out
Arvind Kejriwal urgent action alerts on your behalf, offer emergency
(India) speaking to
Ashoka Fellows, and funding, and provide you with free legal counsel.
their networks, in
Nepal about how he Example: When a Fellow in Asia was wrongly
championed the branded an anti-nationalist, Ashoka worked
Right to Information
Act in India. closely with the Asian Human Rights Commission
and the network of Ashoka Fellows in the region
to put pressure on the chief minister of the region
to address the case. Three months later the
Fellow was released of charges, and the district
commissioner responsible was removed from
his post.
Ashoka’s Advocates for Social Entrepreneurs (ASE) connects social entrepreneurs Ashoka has partnered with leading global firms that bring substantial knowledge and experience to the
with high quality free legal support. Partnering lawyers, law firms, and networks citizen sector, and work directly with Fellows and Ashoka initiatives in areas such as business planning and
offer legal advice and assistance regarding intellectual property, organizational strategy, legal issues, and marketing. Ashoka’s current global strategic partners are McKinsey &
structure, policy change, human rights, and more. Our partners include Company and Hill & Knowlton.
Latham & Watikins, the International Senior Lawyer’s Project (ISLP) and
Lex Mundi, among others. Together we are strengthening the pro-bono legal
culture around the world.
“ASN members are by my side encouraging me and helping me take strategic decisions. We have a
In Paris, Ashoka professional relationship, and we are also friends. They believe in my idea and really want me to succeed.
Fellows and ASN
members discuss Having a ASN members on my advisory board is one the best tools of Ashoka to support a Fellow.”
their board model. Ashoka Fellow Marie Noelle Besançon (France)
Each Fellow is
matched with three
ASN members to
regularly discuss For more information about ASN
their challenges
and issues. contact your country office and
email infoasn@ashoka.org
18 19
Interview
Interested in scaling by partnering with
the private sector? Learn about Ashoka’s Hybrid-Value Chain .
Ashoka Fellow Haidy Duque (Colombia) was elected for her work in stimulating lower-income communities to gain better
livelihoods through productive means. She talks about the scale of her organization through her partnership with
Colceramica, Colombia’s leading tile manufacturer.
TM
profits?
>
Gain: Organizations it as capitalism. But when they hear of the impact, and how
>
>
· Creation of new markets Gain: communities can influence business practices, they are inspired.
>
>
· Accelerated social impact A: How did Ashoka help you along the way?
Core assets: To learn more about Ashoka’s
>
>
>
both staff and Fellows have provided advice throughout the process. Full Economic Citizenship initiative
· Investment capacity · Understanding of community needs
>
For the most part, I have adopted the Hybrid Value Chain methodol- contact us at fec@ashoka.org
>
· Infrastructure and logistic and dynamics ogy. And in replicating the program, we’re working with Ashoka Fellows
Did you know that Ashoka received the highest ranking -4 stars- for citizen sector fiscal
Ashoka responsibility from the Charity Navigator?
as broker
22 23
Seeking to diversify your funding sources? Looking for new financial platforms?
Ashoka’s Citizen Base Initiative has the answer. Ashoka’s Social Financial Service is transforming the industry.
Break free from chronic dependence on grants which tend to be unpredictable and Ashoka’s Social Financial Services works with leading financial institutions to invest in
unsustainable. Learn from your peers and think creatively about mobilizing a broad the citizen sector by developing innovative financial products and services. The
base of resources—money, people, goods, services, information, and challenge for citizen sector organizations? Collaboration, not fragmentation, so that
partnerships—to increase your efficiency and social impact. the financial sector can attain a pool of clients large enough to dramatically reduce its
investment risk.
2
Brazil, and Mexico whose organizations are hospitals in India, China, Nigeria, Paraguay and South
on a sustainable growth path. Africa, the Fund is embarking to assist 4,000 hospitals
over the next five years.
Did you know that 80% of Ashoka Fellows report that Ashoka’s support made a critical or
significant difference in their work?
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Are you working with youth? Looking to involve your children in
Include Ashoka’s Youth VentureTM as part of your portfolio of services. Social Entrepreneurship?
Young Ashoka is taking care of the next generation.
Ashoka Fellows have also developed initiatives to engage their youth such as
The Youth Venture Challenge, which is a series of workshops that
stimulate youth to formulate and launch their own idea for social change. Top: Children of other Ashoka
Fellows meet with Bill Drayton
Fellow Matthew Spacie (India) saw The Youth Venture Challenge as another through Young Ashoka in Brazil.
way to engage the children in his program, while Fellow Sonali Ojha (India) Bottom: Through Young Ashoka
wanted to offer support to her beneficiaries as they embarked on their journey the children build upon their
to social change. leadership and social
entrepreneurship skills.
For more information on Youth Venture contact Want to learn more about Young Ashoka?
tjohnston@ashoka.org From top down: Ashoka Fellow Contact your local country office.
Carlos Cruz (Mexico), members
of RAPEM, Ashoka Fellow
Matthew Spacie (India).
Did you know that in Sanskrit Ashoka means “the active absence of sorrow”?
26 27
Looking to connect with more movers Highlights of previous
competitions
and shakers in your field? “By participating in Ashoka‘s
Changemakers competitions many
Participate in Ashoka’s Changemakers online collaborative competitions. people got to know our organization
very quickly, especially young people;
they were calling us, visiting us. It’s
unlike any other competition or award
-- everyone at our office was excited
to see who was voting for us at every
It is easy moment. And during the competition
See why nearly 300 Fellows have participated in we got in touch with others who work
Ashoka Changemakers competitions in the past on the same issues as us.”
eight months. Ashoka Fellow Chetna Gala Sinha (India),
Winner of “Market-Based Strategies that Benefit
• Visit www.Changemakers.net Low-Income Communities” Changemakers
• Fill out the online entry form Competition
• Instantly connect to an online global community of
investor, change leaders and media.
Top Judges review your entry
Past Judges Include:
Connect with potential funders
See why top investors are sponsoring Changemakers Ongoing competitions:
competitions (including Nike and RWJF)
Sonal Shah, “Tapping Local Innovation: Unclogging the Water
Global Economic and Sanitation Crisis”
After sponsoring a competition, the Pioneer Portfolio of the Robert Development Google.org
Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) decided to channel more funds Competition:
to entrants - it announced that they have invited 11 innovators to Disruptive Innovations in “The Geotourism Challenge: Celebrating Places
compete for $5 million in grant funding. Health and Health Care: -- Changing Lives”
Solutions People Want Ashoka’s Changemakers and the
National Geographic are launching a search for
innovative, community-based ecotourism solutions
from around the world.
Randy Newcomb,
President of Humanity
United, VP Omyidar Network For more information contact your country office
Competition: and Changemakers team member Dana Frasz at
Entrepreneuring Peace +1.703.600.8311 dfrasz@ashoka.org
Participate in the latest competition, visit
www.changemakers.net
Mark Parker,
President & CEO
Nike, Inc.
Competition:
Sport for a Better World
human trafficking.”
Ed Cain, Vice President, Ashoka Fellow Roma Debabrata (India), Winner of How to End Human Trafficking Changemakers Competition
Hilton Foundation
Competition:
Tapping Local Innovation:
Unclogging the Water and
Sanitation Crisis
Ashoka Changemakers Competitions attract the Did you know that Ashoka has never accepted funding from any government entity?
brightest innovators from around the globe. Above:
Competition finalist uses paper as an inexpensive
30 alternative to traditional plastic asthma inhalers. 31
Wanting schools to teach what Wanting to share your idea
you've learned? Take advantage of Ashoka's Global Academy with the world? Make the most of the Ashoka brand.
Among the founding Members of Ashoka’s process for finding the world’s leading social entrepreneurs is recognized by orga-
the Global Academy are: nizations world-wide. When a social entrepreneur becomes an Ashoka Fellow doors begin
to open for them in unexpected ways. Wearing the Ashoka badge is the key.
For more information contact “Before receiving Ashoka’s support, we reached a total marginal population of approximately
Marina Kim mkim@ashoka.org and
visit www.universitynetwork.org Ron Grzywinski and Mary Houghton, 140,000 inhabitants; this year we are approaching 4 million. For me Ashoka’s help is endless and
Co-Founders of Shorebank. the Social Entrepreneur badge is a symbol of innovation, creativity, ethical fiber, social impact,
that the world recognizes.”
Ashoka Fellow Albina Ruiz (Peru), winner of the Skoll, Schwab and GDN Awards and special guest at the Clinton Global Initiative
32 33
> During the Industrial Revolution economic power shifted from a tiny percentage
of the population to a broad base of society. Everyone was able to start their own
business and change their economic reality. Since then, the world's economy has
grown exponentially.
> Yet the citizen sector was left behind – until now. Today we are on the brink of a
revolution of even greater magnitude.
> All around the globe regular citizens no longer remain passive when faced with
social problems. We are realizing that change can happen and that we can make
it happen. The result: rather than relying on an elite few to make the decisions that
affect our lives, we are able to rely on ourselves and each other to determine our
own future.
> And you, our Fellows, are leading the way for this revolution to unfold. You are
examples of how individual Changemakers can make a big difference, and you are
showing the rest of the world that it works. Providing you with the support to lead
this change is only part of what we do.
> Ashoka's programs are changing social structures so that individuals, organiza-
tions, businesses and governments can fully participate in this revolution. All of
these participants can play a crucial role in social change. We engage with them so
that, together, all can be a part of this historical transformation.
“The most important contribution
any of us can make now (...) is to
increase the proportion of
humans who know that they can
cause change.”
Bill Drayton, C.E.O and Founder of Ashoka
www.ashoka.org