(to the ashoka un-lonely planet)


 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.

The time when only a tiny elite could

cause change is coming to an end.
One day, all individuals will be
Changemakers like you. Lead them.
Do you see this far? We did. Impelling this
revolution is in your hands.
Ashoka understands that social change emerges from within communities, and that each individual within
those communities has the potential to become a Changemaker. As an Ashoka Fellow you are a role model for
society, demonstrating to others how they too can create change. Ashoka invests in you not only because
you are transforming your field and improving your communities but because you are providing pathways to
civic engagement for others. And such engagement creates the conditions for progress on all the ills that
plague human societies. Ashoka challenges you to go beyond your individual success as a Social
Entrepreneur and become one of the architects of this vision.

“There is nothing more powerful

than a new idea in the hands
of a Social Entrepreneur.”  

Photo credit: Xavier Rossi

Bill Drayton, C.E.O and Founder of Ashoka
engage
 Ready to engage with other Fellows? 3 Shape your Fellowship! 
The strength of the Fellowship depends on you! By engaging with other Fellows and
through Ashoka's programs, and guiding Ashoka's global strategy you will strengthen your
Fellowship.
Become a Changemaker within your Fellowship.

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.

1 Meet other Fellows

The first opportunity you have to shape your Fellowship is coming soon
4
-- the regional Orientation and Induction creates a platform for you to
meet and network with other Fellows in your continent. You will get a Increase your
series of other opportunities to meet Fellows including the All connectivity to other
Fellow Meetings and your Graduation, which celebrates the end of your Fellows
stipend period. “The over-arching benefit of Ashoka provides support for you
Ashoka is membership in a to gain access to the internet
family of social entrepreneurs through the Internet Incentive
with access to the richness of Fund, and to communicate with
their thinking, experience, and Through the Global Fellowship other Fellows around the world
support. Ashoka is a Advisory Board Ashoka Fellows through the Language Incentive
homecoming for social shape the direction of the Fund.
entrepreneurs who have been Fellowship. Members have
homeless, in that there exists included: Anil Chitrakar (Nepal),
no community that Wellington Nogueira (Brazil),
understands and celebrates Juan Infante (Peru), SLN Swamy
their commitment to cause, or (India), Karen Worcman (Brazil),
the loneliness of leadership.” Beulah Thumbadoo (South
Ashoka Fellow Mary Gordon (Canada),
Africa), Magda Iskander (Egypt)
Member Ashoka Board of Directors and Hector Castillo (Mexico). 

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.

· Problem Solving Dinners: where one Fellow calls upon the

strength of the Fellowship to solve organizational issues.
· Learning Circles: one-to-one strategy exchange sessions among
peers.
· Sustainability Workshops: access experts in the field to take your
organization to sustainability.
· Communication Training Sessions: receive training on how to
communicate and market your vision to investors and the public.
· Diversity Workshops: create a guide with your peers on creating
diversity within your organization and public policy.
 women and Islam at the Pan Asia Orientation and Induction. Bangalore 2007.
For more information about connecting
to other Fellows and being an active
force in your Fellowship, contact your
country office.
Did you know that Bill Drayton, Ashoka’s founder pioneered the field of Social
Ashoka Fellows Mohammadi Siddiqui (Nepal), Suwimon Piriyathanalai (Thailand), Entrepreneurship in the 1980s?
Shad Begum (Pakistan), Sakeena Yacoobi (Afghanistan) discussing issues of

 
 Ready to collaborate with other
Fellows?
Access the Ashoka Collaboration Funds.
Reach new heights and increase your impact by collaborating with
other Fellows using funds supported by Ashoka
An entrepreneur's Sandbox
Together Ashoka and Deshpande
Foundation are creating a ‘sandbox’ in
Funding Levels North Karnataka: an arena where Ashoka
Fellows (and later other local social
entrepreneurs) are able to replicate their
Fellow-Led Collaboration Funds ideas, collaborate with each other (plus local
Fellow-led collaborations -- receive up to government bodies, academia and
$10,000 when collaborating with other business) and benefit from
Fellows on a theme of your choice. Contact support by Ashoka and Deshpande.
our collaborations team to get more
information on deadlines and how to apply.
Shivaram Pailoor (India) is integrating the
work of his CAAM -- Center for Alternative
Seeded Collaboration Investments Agricultural Media -- into the work of the
Investor-led collaborations guided by Ashoka other Fellows and will develop its portfolio,
based on observed trends and critical global services and clientele.
challenges. Themes, number of Fellows and
amounts vary.
Ayyappa Masagi (India) is spreading his
water literacy project to the cities and villages
in the sandbox, including rainwater
harvesting, water-friendly landscaping
and a water awareness campaign.
“I am impressed with the deep
Chetna Gala Sinha (India) is replicating her
conviction of the Ashoka Ashoka Changemakers award-winning model
Fellow which is a key to of self-help groups for women and her new
overcoming the enormous business school for rural women.
hurdles that come in the way of
achieving their dreams. Their
entrepreneurial skills rival the
skills of any entrepreneur that I
have seen
in Boston or the Silicon Valley.”
Anselm Rosario (India) is setting out -- after
Gururaj “Desh” Deshpande,
Founder of Deshpande Foundation many years of successful work on urban
development and sanitation -- to expand his
work to rural areas, and combine sanitation,
development and livelihood.
10
Collaboration models
1 Incorporate another Fellow's innovation
into your own approach
Ashoka Fellow Vicky Colbert empowers students
who have been displaced by Colombia’s armed
conflict. Vicky realized that incorporating Ashoka Fel-
low Rodrigo Baggio's model (bridging the digital and
social divide through computer centers) into her own
would increase her impact. Vicky obtained collabora-
tions funds to train with Rodrigo and replicate his
model in Colombia.
To date:
· Vicky secured $50,000 in external funding.
· She opened 4 computer centers in Colombia.
· 430 people have benefitted in the last 6 months.
Ashoka Fellows Nicolás Hernandez
(Colombia), Mercedez de Freitas
(Venezuela) and Gustavo Candia
(Argentina) with Andrés Hernandez
(Transparency International) and
2
Victoria Emanuelli (Ashoka) after a long
day of work on the Integrity Systems
Combine your innovation with another Collaboration.
Fellow's to create new solutions
3
Ashoka Fellow Amy Jeffe Barzach builds inclusive
playgrounds for children with disabilities in the USA; Jointly overcoming cross-cutting obstacles
Five Ashoka Fellows from across Latin America recognized that in
while in Peru, Fellow Juan Carlos Aguilar builds toys
that stimulate creativity. When they met, they saw an fighting corruption, they had to target its most insidious form:
opportunity to impact their organizations and the sector quotidian corruption such as bribes and biases that
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
globally by Ashoka and Transparency International as a guide for
local governments and citizen sector organizations.
Ashoka Fellows in Indonesia, Thailand, and India will add their
innovations via a series of workshops on integrity systems hosted
throughout 2008.
Playgrounds Creative Creative
accessible toys toys for
to children with children with
disabilities disabilities
Want to collaborate? Contact
collaborate@ashoka.org and
country office
“The Ashoka network was crucial for the success of our work.”
Ashoka Fellow Tahir Khilji (Pakistan)
After Pakistan’s earthquake in 2005, Ashoka Fellow Tahir Khilji received US$10,000 from the Fund for
Global Human Rights to travel to Abbottabod, North Pakistan and halt child trafficking. Tahir partnered
with Fellow Mohamad Ali, an expert in child education, and later with Fellow Shaukat Sharar, who would be
the architect of the schools and shelters. They received an additional $10,000 from the AJWS facilitated
by Ashoka. Through their collaboration they impacted over 500 children and helped rebuild the town with
earthquake-safe techniques.
Did you know that Ashoka has established programs in over 60 countries around the world?
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.

1 Prevention: don’t leave home without it!

Know where to go, who to look out for, and how to
respond. Ashoka’s Security Toolkit and trainings
help you anticipate and assess threats before they
escalate. 

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.

The Case of the Right to Information Act

3 Ashoka Fellow Security global partners

· Amnesty International (Global)

In the midst of Nepal’s political crossroads, Ashoka saw an
opportunity: invite Arvind Kejriwal, Ashoka Fellow (India) and · Asian Human Rights Commission (Asia)
· Conectas (Latin America)
champion of India’s Right to Information Act, to Nepal. Hosted · Urgent Action Fund for Women (Global)
by Nepali Ashoka Fellows and staff in April 2007, Arvind met …among others
with a cross-section of civil society leaders including Ashoka Other LFA workshops:
Fellows, advocates and lawyers of the Bar Association, and · Widows’ Rights – Nepal
journalists. Thanks to this visit, the issue was highlighted by local · Rights of Mentally Ill – India
influential media, and later, Ashoka Fellow in Nepal Rajendra · Fellows participating in budget-related At the Asia Orientation new
Dahal followed it up with others in the citizen sector to sensitize legislation – Brazil Fellows interact with previously
· Additionally, Ashoka Fellows from elected Fellows and Ashoka
the parliamentarians and organized a separate working session Brazil and Paraguay have published a book staff. Bangalore,
with them. The result: on July 13, 2007, Nepal’s interim on different strategies on how you can January 2007.
parliament unanimously passed the Nepalese Right to successfully influence public policy.
Information Bill, which includes key clauses from India’s RTI Act.

“When I got the Ashoka Fellowship I thought it was all

about the stipend until now when I realize the world of
Workshops Ashoka brings every opportunity.” For more information, contact
1. Identify successful strategies for influencing public policy fellowsafety@ashoka.org
and 2. Link social entrepreneurs with leading policy Ashoka Fellow Betty Makoni (Zimbabwe) and your Ashoka country office
makers, business entrepreneurs, the media, and other civil For more information on Law for All
society leaders; in order to 3. Strengthen rights and workshops, contact us at
opportunities for marginalized communities. lawforall@ashoka.org
Did you know that 71% of Fellows affect national-level public policy in the first 10 years of
their Ashoka Fellowship?
14 15
 Seeking free legal assistance? Seeking free strategic consulting?
Connect to Ashoka’s Advocates for Social Entrepreneurs. Connect to Ashoka’s consulting partners.

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.

Ashoka Fellow Joe Williams (USA) helps ex-prisoners transition

to a better life.  While offering services ranging from child-care
to job placement, his organization had no source of revenue. 
Know the law before you change it Joe decided to open a bakery specializing in sweet potato pies,
Ashoka Fellow Edith Grynspancholc was eager to grow her children’s health advocacy program which would employ ex-prisoners, and its profits would help fund
beyond Argentina to Latin America and the Caribbean, but she didn’t know where to begin.  the larger non-profit.
The Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice – via an introduction from Ashoka – connected Edith
with a free legal research team, which is now helping her position her organization’s spread strategy.

“Many nonprofits I’ve interacted

with hit a wall because they want
to change the world by reforming
massive institutions like the WTO or
Structure your organization strategically national governments. I was struck
Through introductions from Ashoka, Jose-Pablo Fernandez, and other Ashoka Fellows from the United
States, Mexico, South Africa, and beyond have worked with U.S. law firms to register their organizations Ashoka Fellow
by Ashoka’s founding insight:
as US 501(c)(3) not-for-profit entities, in order to receive tax-deductible donations from the U.S. Joe Williams. lasting structural change only occurs
if people themselves are changed
and become active change-makers.”
Shouvik Banerjee, McKinsey consultant working on Joe’s case
Shouvik Banerjee,
McKinsey
consultant
working on
Protect your intellectual property Joe’s case.
Ecuadorian Ashoka Fellow Maria Elena Ordoñez was alerted that her children’s television series was The McKinsey team worked with Joe to develop a road map
being broadcast illegally in the United States. Through an introduction facilitated by Ashoka and the for his first two years.  This strategy session focused on four
Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation, attorneys with Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP investigated the issues:  Joe’s target market(s), distribution plan, key allies,
situation and intervened with the television company directly on Arcandina’s behalf, initiating legal and marketing strategy.  The McKinsey team also facilitated a
action and limiting broadcast of the show. meeting with a successful bakery owner.  This meeting served
three purposes:  grasp the key drivers of success in the bakery
industry, understand key operational decisions for a new bakery,
and gain key insights from an industry expert.  For instance, Joe
and the McKinsey team learned that the restaurant industry in
which 9 in 10 businesses close each year is flooded with
Defend against wrongful charges high-quality but affordable used equipment.  Leveraging this
Shin Corp, Thailand’s largest media corporation, filed a criminal libel suit against Ashoka Fellow market would significantly lower startup costs and increase
Supinya Klangnarong after she published an interview in which she questioned the company’s close chances of success.
relationship with the Thai government.  Attorneys with Ashoka’s partner the International Senior
Lawyers Project (ISLP), alongside Supinya’s local legal counsel, channeled international pressure to
defeat the law suit and defend an independent media in Thailand.  She was acquitted of all charges. For more information contact
Kelli Moore at
kmoore@ashoka.org
For more information on Advocates
for Social Entrepreneurs, contact us
at ase@ashoka.org
Did you know that Ashoka started in 1990 with an annual budget of $50,000, which has grown to
nearly $34 million in 2007?
16 17
 Looking for a meaningful connection
Marie Noelle Besançon
to the private sector?
Engage with the Ashoka Support Network.
The Ashoka Support Network (ASN) is a global community of successful business people who
share Ashoka’s belief that entrepreneurs are the primary engine for economic and social
development. Committing time and resources, ASN members engage with Ashoka to
support the work of social entrepreneurs, and through engaging with them learn about the
most effective ways to make a difference.
Example: Ashoka Fellow
Ashoka Fellow Marie Noelle Besançon (France) was matched with ASN members
Gerard Boch, Claire Houry, and Stephane Monmousseau who composed her
advisory board.  They are advising her on how she can elaborate a charter for her
organization’s new structure, what legal protection she should think about, how
to structure her new partnership with Habitat&Humanise, and how to hone her
marketing skills.

Our rapidly expanding network of ASN members

includes business entrepreneurs, top executives,
investment bankers, venture capitalists, and
consultants from Europe, North America, South
America, Asia and beyond.  In working with ASN
members you will have the opportunity to gain a
private sector perspective and in special cases,
construct joint-ventures and receive sponsorship.

Beçanson with ASN

members Boch,
Houry, and
Monmousseau, in
a problem solving
session in Paris.

“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

“The Ashoka presentation in Paris revealed to me the face of amazing social

entrepreneurial talent that with further support, has the potential to reshape our world.”
ASN member Tarek Toubale
Did you know that two Ashoka Fellows have been part of Ashoka’s Board of Directors?

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

“After hearing the community leaders I

Ashoka’s Hybrid-Value Chain model leverages business and citizen sectors’ asked myself, who are the experts here?
capabilities to deliver essential goods and services to low-income populations. The We hadn’t recognized the real value of
results: companies expand their client base through new markets; CSOs find new
revenue sources and increase their impact; and low-income populations improve their the contribution from the community. We
livelihoods as their needs are met and new sustainable economic opportunities arise. had been cocky; we needed to be
more humble.”
Carlos Espinal, Marketing Director of Colceramica

Ashoka Fellow Mukti Bosco (India) is

using Ashoka's Hybrid-Value Chain by
partnering with HDFC General
Insurance Company to deliver health
insurance to a large base of clients
comprised of low-income individuals.
HDFC underwrites the risk while Mukti
manages the eco system comprising
hospitals, transaction processing,
health education and health needs
analysis. She reaches out to needy Ashoka: Why did you form a partnership with Colceramica?
communities through a network of CSO Haidy Duque: We wanted to achieve goals that we could not reach on
partners. our own. It was not easy but it was worth it!

A: What did both parties bring to the table?

To date:
· 57,893 persons insured
· HDFC generated USD $89,992 in sales
· Mukti generated USD $21,369
· 18 CSO partners received USD $9,029
Low-income populations
Gain: improved livelihoods
>
H: My organization brought an anthropological understanding of how
low-income individuals sell, buy, etc. Colceramica brought years of
business management skills and the product.
A: What are the results so far?
H: 2,300 low-income families bought Colceramica products. They
have better sanitation and health. The product is top quality at low
prices so people are investing at their maximum capacity to achieve
their dream. They are proud! Our 205 promoters went from being
unemployed to receiving US$200 monthly (equivalent to the minimum
wage in Colombia). Colceramica expects to break-even only two years
after the initial investment as sales have increased tremendously.
Additionally, this project has developed as a distinct economic
development model for the sector that combines various elements
such as job creation, better housing conditions and income
generation for my organization. We can afford a project coordinator

and increase program offerings to our beneficiaries.

>
>
>

A: How would you inspire Ashoka Fellows to engage in this type of

>
>

initiatives? Were you concerned about helping the company make

>

profits?
>

Business partners Citizen sector

>

H: Often, social organizations disapprove of the model as they think of

>

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. 
>
>

· Pioneering corporate image · New sources of revenue

hybrid
>
>

· Accelerated social impact A: How did Ashoka help you along the way?
Core assets: To learn more about Ashoka’s
>

>

· Ability to operate at large scale value chain model Core assets:

H: Ashoka provided input on my initial proposal to Colceramica and Hybrid-Value Chain and 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

>>>>>>>>>>> · Mobilization / change behaviors

· Social networks
· Enabling / complementary services
Audes Jiménez and Carmenza Morales.

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
unsustainable. Learn from your peers and think creatively about mobilizing a broad
base of resources—money, people, goods, services, information, and
partnerships—to increase your efficiency and social impact.
Ashoka’s Social Financial Services works with leading financial institutions to invest in
the citizen sector by developing innovative financial products and services. The
challenge for citizen sector organizations? Collaboration, not fragmentation, so that
the financial sector can attain a pool of clients large enough to dramatically reduce its
investment risk.

1 Social Investment Entrepreneurs

(SIE) Ashoka Fellows
Ashoka supports Fellows who, through
their work, are changing the landscape
Cash awards of accessing financial capital for the citizen
Enter CBI Business-plan Competitions and win fund- sector and underserved
ing and training to implement your citizen base populations.
strategy. It is also an opportunity to get connected
to our global network of social entrepreneurs and
learn from CBI winners all over the world. Ashoka-UBS Visionaris Awards
In partnership with UBS, Ashoka recognizes
social entrepreneurs from Argentina,
A global eye fund
In partnership with Deutsche Bank, the International
Association to Prevent Blindness and Ashoka US Fellow
David Green, Ashoka promoted the creation of the Eye Fund.
With a mission to reduce the number of blind and visually
impaired people worldwide, the Eye Fund provides hospitals
with low-cost loans backed by an investment
product that offers lower than market-rate returns, but
provides social impact as an added value. 
The hospitals will use the loans to create a self-sustaining
financial model: subsidizing impoverished patients’ treatment
with regular clients’ fees. After funding seven

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.

Training Legal structure

Participate in regional CBI learning circles
facilitated by Ashoka’s Strategic Partners:
McKinsey & Co., Hill & Knowlton, or local
consultant firms to develop the skills necessary
to broaden your funding sources.  Beatriz focused on developing a business strategy for
Ashoka is breaking down the definition of
Argentinian Ashoka Fellow Beatriz Pellizari’s for-profit and not-for-profit to create legal “The Eye Fund is a real
organization La Usina was selected as one of 15 and financial structures that address the demonstration of a new mar-
finalist organizations to participate in the 2006 citizen sector’s most urgent problems with ket-based approach to
Learning Circles. During the learning circle process, a market-based approach.
address a fundamental
human need. Our goal is to
one of La Usina’s projects, which commercially
distributes products and services developed by JP Morgan Chase capitalize on our expertise in

3 persons with disabilities. Her business plan was

Learning
Hone your Citizen Base strategy by exploring the
collection of success stories we have
accumulated.  They detail the vision, strategy, key
insights, and results of sustainable operations.
selected as a winner and received a prize of
US$10,000 as start-up money. La Usina received
additional strategic management consulting services
from Ashoka partner McKinsey. Since 2006, Beatriz
has continued to participate in CBI learning circles,
presenting her case and collaborating with other
social entrepreneurs.
Following conversations with Ashoka’s the financial markets in order
Social Financial Services, JP Morgan Chase to expand this approach to
set up a social investment bank with a
other large-scale projects that
reported US $100 Million.
currently are fully
dependent upon charitable
contributions for funding.”
Seth Waugh, CEO of Deutsche Bank
Americas

For more information about

For more information attend your SFS contact Rachel Small at
orientation and visit Ashoka’s CBI rsmall@ashoka.org
site: www.citizenbase.org

Did you know that 80% of Ashoka Fellows report that Ashoka’s support made a critical or
significant difference in their work?
24 25
 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’s Youth Venture is similar to our

search for Ashoka Fellows but targeted Through Young Ashoka you can help prepare a new wave of social entrepreneurs - your
toward young people ages12-20 by: children. They will be exposed to the ideas and methodologies of other Social Entrepre-
neurs like yourself, and exchange experiences with children of parents who are the top
• Investing in young people to have the movers and shakers in their fields. Through our different programs and activities they will
transformative experience of launching and explore and build upon valuable leadership and social entrepreneurship skills to become
leading their own lasting social ventures. tomorrow's leaders of change. This will also be an opportunity for you to strengthen your
• Connecting them to a global network of relationship with your family.
likeminded young Venturers
• Demonstrating to society that young
people are capable leaders of social change

“The critical factor for

success of any human
grouping -  be it a company
or a country – will be the
Ashoka has a target 10-year goal of launching a critical proportion of changemakers
number of teams of Youth Venturers – young changemakers it has to develop new ideas,
– all over the globe.  That is how we will begin to change the take initiative and lead…. if
culture and achieve an “everyone a changemaker” world. you have an experience at a
young age of taking
initiative and leading an
effort to address a social
Spotlight: Mexico and India issue, then it is highly likely
you’ll continue to take initia-
Ashoka Fellow Carlos Cruz (Mexico) is repositioning young influential gang tive again and again through-
leaders as non-violent role-models. Carlos saw adopting the YV model as a out your life. Any young per-
strategy to further his goal: Each year, YV conducts workshops with Carlos’ son is capable of leading a
youth and Carlos then helps them apply to Youth Venture’s $1,000 grant to
implement their idea. Through this joint-program, Jesús (24) and Juan Carlos
venture to create positive so-
(24), members of Carlos's program, received funding to create RAPEM (Rap cial change; it is only a matter
Pandillero Estilo Mexicano), a school for rap that gives urban youth a of support and motivation.”
non-violent form of expression to unite gangs across territories and address Bill Drayton, CEO and Founder of Ashoka
stigmas that urban young people face.

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

Ashoka Fellow Roma Debabrata (India) said

the award will help her organization sup-
port its transitional shelter for
Anousheh Ansari, trafficked women and children.
Founder Prodea
System, first female
private space explorer
Competition:
Entrepreneuring Peace
“Such achievements like winning this award are in itself a challenge to keep up our
good work that has been appreciated and leave no stone unturned in this fight against
Photo credit: Santiago Ocejo

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.

Alice Tepper Marlin,

Founder of the Council
on Economic Priorities.
The Global Academy for Social Entrepreneurship consists of global We suggest these strategies:
leaders who provide conceptual and representational guidance for the field of social
entrepreneurship. Global Academy members, whose solutions have had scalable, • Identify yourself as an Ashoka Fellow in interviews and tell the
global impact, serve as architects of the dynamic, competitive citizen sector of the media about Ashoka and your experience as a Fellow. 
future. The Academy demonstrates and defines how social entrepreneurs can ad- • Include your year of election on your biographies and resume 1 2
dress global problems on a global scale, through such knowledge products Fazle Abed, • Add Ashoka’s logo to your business card and add a link to the
Founder of Building
as The Social Entrepreneurship Series, a 16 disc DVD Series on Academy Resources Across Ashoka website (www.ashoka.org) on your website
Members and their successes as global changemakers. Communities (BRAC). • Update us on your work, achievements, and prizes so we can
keep our eye out for opportunities related to your current work.
Ashoka's Global Academy has partnered with other social entrepreneurship Email your country office and copy mediainfo@ashoka.org
initiatives to form the University Network for Social Entrepreneurship which works • Inform us when you have new methodologies, services, and
with professors and researchers, practitioners, and students to develop social products so we can feature them on the Ashoka website. Email
entrepreneurship as a vocation and carry its principles into other disciplines and your country office and copy mediainfo@ashoka.org
sectors. It is designed to be a resource hub and an action-oriented discussion forum
to expand social entrepreneurship education and participation around the world.
Peter Eigen,
Founder of
3 4
Transparency
International (TI).
"Ashoka is a great global organization, built on a brilliant idea."
Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Winner
“Ashoka gave me the chance to attend the Clinton Global Initia-
tive. It was a wonderful opportunity to share experience with
Oded Grajew,
Founder of the World
leaders world-wide, from civil society, business and government,
Social Forum and Ethos and to have the possibility of establish partnerships aiming to
Institute. spread our work.” 5 6
Ashoka Fellow Vera Cordeiro (Brazil)

Ela Bhatt, Founder

of the Self-Employed “What I like about
Women’s Association Ashoka is that it lets us
(SEWA).
work our own way on
our own priorities and 1. Ashoka Senior Fellow Orri Vigfusson (Iceland),
it has connected me to Goldman Environmental Prize 2007 winner. 2. Ashoka
Fellow Vicky Colbert (Colombia) and Ashoka Acad-
Hernando De Soto, networks world-wide. emy Member Fazl Abed (Bangladesh) awarded by Bill
Founder and President
of the Institute for
Without Ashoka Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative 2007. 3. Ashoka
Fellow JB Schramm (USA), 5 years Fast Company Social
Liberty and Democracy I wouldn’t be where Entrepreneur winner. 4. Vera Cordeiro (Brazil), winner
(ILD). I am now.”  of 11 national and international awards including Skoll
and GDN. 5. Mahabir Pun (Nepal), winner of the Ramon
Ashoka Fellow Mahabir Pun (Nepal), Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership 2007. 6.
winner of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Ashoka Fellow Adrian Mukhebi (Kenya) with Kofi Anan.
for Community Leadership 2007

Academy Members Muham- In Albina Ruiz's organization

mad Yunus, Founder of Grameen solid waste is managed
Bank and Bill Drayton, C.E.O. and in an innovative and
Founder of Ashoka. sustainable manner.

For more information contact
Marina Kim mkim@ashoka.org and
visit www.universitynetwork.org
32
Ron Grzywinski and Mary Houghton,
Co-Founders of Shorebank.
“Before receiving Ashoka’s support, we reached a total marginal population of approximately
140,000 inhabitants; this year we are approaching 4 million. For me Ashoka’s help is endless and
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
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