SoZo supports ASHOKA
Ashoka was founded in 1980 by Bill Drayton. At the time, the notion of social entrepreneurship was still a novel concept to many. Social issues were normally left to those in society who had either the political or financial authority to govern change. However, with the plates of governments and banks already full, those issues were rarely a priority. Drayton realised the importance of grouping together like-minded individuals who had both the passion and innovative thinking to solve such problems.
A year later the first Ashoka Fellows were elected in India. From there, Drayton fine-tuned his vision into the organisation Ashoka is today. It provides the Fellows with a living stipend while their ideas are developed and perfected, opportunities for them to interact and collaborate, and promotion of their solutions to the media, government and financiers. From the first Fellow in 1981, Ashoka today has over 2,000 in over 60 countries. As of 2006 its annual budget had expanded from $US50,000 to nearly $US30 million. Offices now exist in all five continents and they are perpetually on the lookout for potential nominees.
SoZo and Ashoka both seek to combine benevolence and practicality in solving social issues. We both realise that in order for the solutions to be long-term, benefit for both sides of the issue has to exist. Certainly we have a lot to learn from these Fellows. In fact, our first SoZo Dialogue was with Anil Chitrakar, a Fellow known for his work in education and environmental improvements in Nepal. Judging from how well that went, we hope to hold a rendezvous of a similar format with a different Fellow each month, along with the occasional online seminar for those who are unable to with us in person. June’s SoZo Dialogue will be with Caroline Casey, a Fellow from Ireland known for her work with people with disability.