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=ASHOKA =

"Innovators for the Public"


=Ashoka: A Social Entrepreneur Organization =

Founded in 1980 by Bill Drayton, Ashoka is a social entrepreneur organization that works to tackle some of the largest global social challenges by investing in social entrepreneurs that have "innovative solutions that are sustainable and replicable" to the world's problems. Ashoka extends its positive influence to many areas of the world, such as Asia, Africa, Europe, Middle East/ North Africa, North America and South America. Since their founding in 1980, Ashoka has elected over 2,000 Ashoka fellows, or elected social entrepreneurs, and has provided them with many living expenses, professional aid, as well as access to people in 60 countries of the world. The organization itself was named after Ashoka, an "Indian leader who unified the the Indian subcontinent" in the 3rd century B.C. The organization's logo is a picture of an oak tree that "represents the power of Ashoka's commitment and contributions to building the profession of social entrepreneurship."

Ashoka supports the actions of around 2,000 Ashoka fellows, and more fellows are elected each year through nominations. Ashoka works in three steps. First, Ashoka works to promote the work of individual social entrepreneurs and to support their cause and immediate actions. Then, they work as a group with other supporters of the specific cause to create a greater movement in the field of application of the specific solution. Lastly, the infrastructure of the solution set up by the social entrepreneurs is put in place in the citizen sector, or the community itself. Through these three simple steps, Ashoka aims to change the world for the better, little by little. Ashoka, on its website, states that the ideal world that the organization is trying to demonstrate is a world where everyone knows that they have "the potential to be powerful changemakers."



Ashoka is currently working on six major problematic issues of the globe; civic engagement, economic development, environment, health, human rights, and learning/education. Ashoka is always open to new ideas that attempt to improve the globe's situation. On Ashoka's website, anyone is able to nominante a person for Ashoka fellows. Also, Ashoka keeps track of the changes that have been occurring in the worldwide society due to the Ashoka fellows' actions; the graph shows the changes in national laws 5 and 10 years after fellows' elections. Through keeping track of the progress their fellows have made, Ashoka is making sure that they invest in the right people, and that their members are being changemakers, changing the world into a better place for everyone.

=Link to Ashoka's Official Website: =

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=A Real-Life Example: Affected by Ashoka =

These children of the Helwan streets were participants of the Hip Hop Steps activity that was organized by an Ashoka fellow, Seham Ibrahim, the founder of Tofulty. (Tofulty is an organization that strives to improve families and children by offering medical care as well as psychological help.) This activity was designed to make the young girls and boys that live in the streets of Helwan feel stronger and more confident; people were clapping and cheering for them as they performed their aerobic-like dance at the Gezira Youth Club. A person at the event said, “They feel confident when people clap for them, and whistle for them. They feel stronger.” These children benefited psychologially from participating in this event, and became m ore confident individuals; the activity, designed and executed by Ashoka member Seham Ibrahim, was a great success in terms of participation and efficiency. Also, this event was made to make the children feel unique, making them more original individuals.

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=Visual Aids: Comic Strip & Short Video Clip =

media type="custom" key="3913811" media type="custom" key="3913801" media type="custom" key="3913797" media type="youtube" key="RGbYzRrLR6Y" height="344" width="425" [1:17~ 1:49]

=Critical Questions to Ashoka: =

1. Are there any group social entrepreneur projects that Ashoka is especially focusing on at the moment?

2. Have any new global problems arisen due to the recent economic depression?

3. What are the criteria for electing a person as an Ashoka fellow out of the list of nominees?

4. How does Ashoka make sure that all the needy areas of the world get equal amounts of help?

5. How exactly does Ashoka help the social entrepreneurs? Through sending financial aid? Through sending professional people? Both?\

=Works Cited: =

http://www.lcsi.smu.edu.sg/i3_challenge/images/ashoka.gif http://www.ashoka.org/approach http://www.ashoka.org/impact/effectiveness http://www.thedailynewsegypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=21548 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGbYzRrLR6Y