Welcome Ashoka Fellows selected in Europe 2023-2024

About Lisa
 

Lisa Westcott Wilkins is creating “social impact archaeology” with DigVentures, a citizen-led initiative that allows anyone to participate. By democratizing archaeology, she enriches communities, makes history accessible and relevant, preserves heritage, and fosters citizen scientists. 

The problem
 

Archaeology in the UK is a closed field, predominantly academic or commercial, with less than 1% diversity. It is often inaccessible to the public, burdened by expensive degrees and unpaid dig experiences. Most digs cater to commercial needs, focusing on compliance rather than quality, with the knowledge gained rarely shared with communities.

Impact

• Lisa is transforming archaeology by creating a movement that partners with the public through DigVentures, breaking open the closed doors of archaeology and fostering inclusivity and community engagement. 

• Lisa is building non-academic pathways to engage diverse individuals in archaeology, including digger drivers on construction sites, gardeners, and local historians. Through DigVentures, she implements crowdfunded digs, an open policy on data and learnings and online training programs, empowering regular people to participate in archaeological digs. Lisa believes that by helping people learn about their history, they can better understand their community and its future.

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About Virginie

Virginie provides teenagers from underprivileged neighborhoods with tools, networks, and opportunities to broaden their career orientation in alignment with their interests. By leveraging a mandatory requirement established in the French education system – the 9th-grade internship – Viens Voir Mon Taf (Come See my Job) expands the opportunities for socio-economically challenged students and creates a space of encounter among individuals who would not interact otherwise, breaking tangible and symbolic boundaries. 

The problem

Economic and social inequalities in France often trap individuals in low-income status for generations, partly due to unequal access to quality education and professional networks. At around age 13, most students gain access to these networks through their families, limiting opportunities for those without such connections. 

Impact

• Viens Voir Mon Taf (VVMT) addresses this issue by connecting students with professionals across various fields, from law to aerospace engineering, to help them explore career options early on.

• Since 2015, VVMT has impacted over 20,000 students, matching 5,555 with diverse career fields based on their interests. This initiative bridges gaps and fosters opportunities for students and partner organizations alike.

• VVMT marks an initial physical intervention during the early stages of teenagers' educational journey, with the ultimate aim of setting the groundwork for economic and social mobility. The underlying idea is that substantial transformation, encompassing greater access, equality, and integration, can be achieved through personal encounters that emphasize the human element, repeatedly enacted. Through this internship, individuals who would otherwise never cross paths are brought together. 

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About Bernardo

Bernardo is igniting the spark of democratic participation in young people by creating a new architecture that enables them to work with their local political representatives, allowing them to make a real, tangible impact in their local community.   

The problem

Youth engagement has alarmingly decreased in conventional forms of politics, with almost 60% of eligible voters aged 18 to 24 in Europe choosing not to vote, and less than 10% being members of a political party. In practice, decision-making spaces are often secured for adults with limited channels for youth participation, resulting in discouragement and a sense of undervaluation. While citizenship modules become mandatory in schools, they remain purely theoretical with ill-equipped teachers to activate youth changemaking.

Impact

• MyPolis is a pioneer model designed to bridge the gap between theory and practice, and schools and municipalities, offering youth a fun, hands-on experience of democracy in action to develop, present, and implement solutions with their local authorities.   

• Bernardo's vision extends beyond the classroom; he's shaping a society where every voice matters, and everyone has the power to influence and participate in the world around them. MyPolis is revitalizing the interest of young participants and inviting them on a journey of discovery, collaboration, and transformation.

• By fostering assemblies of local authorities and youth, MyPolis acts as an eye-opening opportunity to untap the talent of youth to drive change in their communities and be essential partners of policymakers. 

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About Pax

Pax is reducing bullying and violence in schools and beyond by establishing emotional literacy, active empathy, and compassion as keystones within the wider educational community. This approach fosters positive coexistence and peacebuilding, laying the foundation for a more empathetic and harmonious society.  

The problem

Seven out of ten children suffer from bullying at some point in school. Over the past decade, numerous anti-bullying programs have been implemented, yet they often rely on punitive measures against the aggressor, exacerbating negative environments.

Impact

• Pax has introduced a new architecture in schools that fosters a mindset shift across the entire educational community—teachers, families, students, and non-teaching staff—moving away from punishment.

• By enhancing socio-emotional skills, Pax's approach empowers everyone to understand and manage their emotions, enabling them to resolve conflicts positively and empathetically. 

• Pax’s strategy focuses on securing the buy-in of the entire educational community, recognizing that children learn by imitation. Public schools' leadership teams engage in a train-the-trainers model, opening dialogue spaces and providing emotional literacy training for all staff, thus activating teachers as emotional literacy referents.

• Simultaneously, youth are exposed to a comprehensive empathy methodology, where they learn to identify and manage their emotions, support others, and use tools for restorative conflict resolution. They then teach younger students through plays, fostering a culture of empathy and positive conflict resolution across different ages. 

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About Lorenzo

Lorenzo is working to guarantee that citizens at all life stages have the skills to critically evaluate media and information and, ultimately, create and share valuable information responsibly. Together, these capabilities shape media and information literacy, a crucial life skill more necessary than ever amidst the wave of information and disinformation.

The problem

As a society, we have not yet been able to equip citizens with the right skills to navigate unmeasurable amounts of information.

Impact

• Lorenzo is highlighting how the lack of media and information literacy hampers people's ability to understand reality and leads to poor decision-making, at a personal and institutional level. Hence, he is leading a mindset shift where the ability to access and recognize trustworthy information and sources is seen not just as a skill but as a right.

• By creating a movement in informal and formal educational organizations, fact-checkers, NGOs and senior associations, Lorenzo is ensuring that every agent understands the relevance of MIL and is equipped with tools to teach it.  

• By involving fact-checkers as knowledge and skill transmitters, teachers and students engage in practical activities across various subjects. This approach helps them quickly internalize habits and tools to assess information in the digital environment, fostering a culture of critical thinking and responsible information consumption in schools. 

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About Josep

Josep has pioneered a sustainable health model for chronic illnesses, centered around patients, paving the way for a healthier, longer-lived society with a transformative impact. 

The problem

As a renowned doctor, Josep has observed that chronic diseases affecting millions are often seen as inevitable with aging, receiving limited resources for prevention and treatment. With Spain's senior population expected to increase by 50% in the coming decades, Josep is focusing on rheumatic diseases and joint health, which affect 14% of society, primarily women.

Impact

• Josep pioneered the world's only dedicated foundation for osteoarthritis (OAFI), emphasizing patient-led innovation to reshape the perception, understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of rheumatic diseases.

• Josep empowers patients, trains health professionals, and caregivers, highlighting the importance of a healthy joint system for active longevity. 

• At the core of OAFI's mission is empowering patients to become active participants in their treatment and prevention of chronic pain and rheumatic conditions. Traditionally, patients have been passive recipients of prescriptions with limited understanding of their diseases. Josep is pioneering a shift where patients can adopt active lifestyles and non-medication methods to alleviate healthcare burdens and reshape healthcare for longer health spans.

• By fostering an intergenerational community among people with chronic rheumatic diseases, Josep promotes peer-to-peer connections and encourages greater health ownership. 

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About Myroslava

Migration and exile can often deprive people of agency. Myra seeks to transform the experience of people on the move (migrants and refugees) to one in which they quickly become active contributors to the common good in their new home and homeland. 

The problem

Central and Eastern European societies will be transformed by migration and refugees. Myra knows that new strategies for co-creating the future are essential. She prepares initiatives that empower migrant-run organizations to drive positive change.

Impact

• Myra creates formats, such as Ukrainian House, Women Clubs, and a coalition of minority organizations, enabling people on the move to actively shape society in Central and Eastern Europe and beyond. These formats engage tens of thousands of people annually. 

• Myra's strategy revolves around guiding questions that encourage both people on the move and host communities to reflect on various aspects of migration and integration. More importantly, it prompts them to take action.

• Joint activities involving Poles and Ukrainians foster mutual support in exploring identity and finding collective answers. With a long-term perspective, Myra understands that the experiences of Ukrainians and Poles today will shape the future of both societies. 

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About José

José is leading a mindset shift in the sports industry by positioning people with disabilities in leadership roles as an economic and innovation opportunity, activating a global movement of functionally diverse entrepreneurs and decision-makers. 

The problem

Globally, 15 to 20% of the world’s population is functionally diverse and only 50 to 70% are employed. Jose understands that this growing population – with untapped talent and innovation – requires not only quotas and affirmative action in the labor market, but a model that unleashes their potential as contributors to our society.

Impact

• Using sports as the lever to bring together people and gradually shift mindsets, José is transforming the rules of the football world from a charity for functionally diverse people to an architecture of entrepreneurial opportunities within the sports management team, leagues and associations and entrepreneurial endeavors across 20 countries.  

• José challenges societal norms and fosters a more inclusive sports industry, showcasing the changemaking spirit of those traditionally perceived as inactive. Through a comprehensive leadership program for sports enthusiasts with physical and sensory disabilities, José guides them in creating inclusive projects with local sports organizations.

• These projects lead to local employment opportunities in soccer administration, soccer associations rehabilitating the socially excluded due to substance abuse or violence, and community events celebrating diversity. 

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About Alain

Alain is creating a new grassroots movement for Black men in Germany, centered around their identity as fathers. By doing so, he is helping to foster positive images of Black fatherhood within German identity and systematically centering Black narratives and representation in German culture and society for generations to come, particularly through children's literature. 

The problem

In Germany, anti-Black racism is prevalent but often unacknowledged, with Black men facing deeply negative stereotypes. Additionally, the public library system lacks children's books featuring positive Black-centered stories, leaving Black children without strong role models and representation.
 

Impact

• Alain has tackled these issues by creating Black Dads Germany, the first community for Black men focused on their identity as fathers. This growing movement has gathered over 1,000 dads in seven cities, empowering them as changemakers in their communities. He provides the tools and encouragement needed to start local communities, shaping their self-efficacy and transforming them into “micro-entrepreneurs.” 

• By organizing hundreds of events in public spaces, including readings of Black-centered children's books, these dads are transforming the public image of Black fatherhood in German society.

• Furthermore, Alain collaborates with publishing companies and librarians to introduce new Black-centered books into public libraries, thereby influencing curational practices and creating demand for more diverse children's literature. Through BDG’s influence on public libraries, the increased Black representation in books offers Black children role models and recognition of their identity, an essential first step toward active citizenship and future changemaking. 

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About Vera

Vera Marin, an urbanist architect, leads "De-a Arhitectura," an initiative repurposing schools for civic education focused on architecture. This program educates children about the built environment, fostering empathy and civic engagement. Since 2013, it has influenced over 30,000 Romanian children and involved 1,150 teachers and 1,000 architects, promoting participatory design and community involvement.

The problem

Romania's traditional education, emphasizing rote learning, has led to low functional literacy and civic engagement. Through "De-a Arhitectura in My City," volunteer architects teach 3rd and 4th graders design and urban awareness.

Impact

• Vera introduces innovative education practices to equip young people for responsible adulthood and engaged citizenship. The "My School Can Be Cool" initiative revamps school spaces through participatory design.

• These efforts, positively impacting over 30,000 students, have gained support from architectural bodies and municipalities, fostering empathy, creativity, and civic responsibility. 

• The "De-a Arhitectura in My City" program emphasizes teamwork and practical skills among children, while the "My School Can Be Cool" initiative focuses on participatory design. By providing resources and training for teachers, these programs ensure value-centric education, cultivating ownership, responsibility, and empowerment in students, preparing them to drive positive change in their communities from a young age.   

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About Caroline

Caroline is attracting innovators into German politics and embedding changemaking into the political system's culture. Recognizing the hierarchical nature of political careers as barriers to creativity and progress, she invigorates the political landscape from within by merging entrepreneurship with politics. She introduced a nationwide scouting and training program for young professionals to experiment, refine ideas, and develop solutions to political challenges. She established Germany’s first incubator for party-level innovation, providing a repository of innovative democratic ideas and nurturing individuals into political entrepreneurs. 

The problem

To counter rising polarization and the right-wing exploitation of political divisions, Caroline sees an urgent need for the political system to nurture new talent with democracy-strengthening ideas.

Impact

• Caroline aims to counteract the lack of innovation entrenched in traditional political career systems by bringing entrepreneurial political changemakers into the arena. Through JoinPolitics, she is fostering a robust community around the political changemakers and positioning them as a valuable resource for parties across the spectrum.

• Within only two years, JoinPolitics has already supported 43 talents, with 7 elected into office and 10 initiatives implemented into party programs and legislative drafts.

• JoinPolitics has also successfully raised over 4 million euros from the private sector into the search and support of political talent over the past four years, creating a significant new funding source for the underfunded area of political innovation. 

• JoinPolitics' participants benefit from a nonpartisan environment to develop ideas and build alliances before entering competitive politics. For instance, Luca Piwodda, 21, partnered with JoinPolitics to engage young people in East Germany, leading to the formation of a new party and the election of 7 local mayors. Similarly, Mehmet Ildeş, 21, founded Local Diversity, a nonpartisan organization empowering young people with migrant backgrounds in political engagement. 

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About Monica
 

Monica pioneers the concept of “cultural intellectual property,” empowering indigenous and ethnic groups to safeguard traditional knowledge. Her framework fosters equitable partnerships with corporations, preserving cultural heritage and promoting biodiversity. By bridging cultural and environmental concerns, she champions sustainability amidst global challenges, reshaping narratives of preservation and partnership for a more inclusive future. 

The problem
 

Monica addresses the neglect of Traditional Knowledge and Cultural Expressions by creating tools for indigenous and ethnic groups to protect their heritage.

Impact

• She introduces Cultural Intellectual Property, enabling communities to design their protection methods.

• Through the 3Cs Rule (Consent, Credit, Compensation), Monica facilitates fair partnerships with companies, empowering marginalized artisans. For example, a company that wants to use a traditional cultural expression in its product line would agree to using the 3Cs framework and engage the custodians of that cultural expression.

• By intertwining cultural and environmental concerns, she fosters sustainability and inclusivity, offering a new narrative in the global discourse on conservation and creativity. Using the 3Cs Rule she translates these concepts into local languages to explain community rights and agency.

• This framework fosters dialogues about new engagement rules, leading to international partnerships and grassroots-led tools. Monica ensures local communities can exercise self-determination in legally protecting their traditional knowledge and intangible cultural heritage.

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About Monica
 

Katia Melis is centering the Belgian legal aid sector around the individual, through an integrated approach to psychological, social and legal aid. By smartly collaborating with the federal government in Belgium, her integrated model is now studied and measured to become a law and scale from Brussels to all Belgian regions. 

The problem
 

Katia, a Belgian lawyer, recognizes the daunting challenges individuals seeking legal aid often encounter, particularly marginalized communities lacking resources to access adequate support. Navigating a fragmented system involving multiple agencies, these individuals face significant hurdles. Through Casa Legal, Katia and her colleagues are transforming legal aid in Belgium by integrating legal, social, and psychological support.

Impact

•  Casa Legal addresses the problem by providing holistic support through its SAHO model (from French, Service d’Accompagnement Holistique). For instance, a mother who has experienced domestic violence may not only require legal aid but also social (access to social housing) and psychological support (trauma therapy) to navigate her situation effectively.

• Working with social workers, psychologistsand other stakeholders, Casa Legal has helped around 1,200 people, 72% of whom are women.

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About Fabio

Fabio is making the transition to sustainable energy possible for NGOs. He enables these organisations to achieve their sustainability goals by changing their energy consumption habits to comply with environmental standards and expectations. In doing so, he is also realizing important financial savings, more than 13 million euros in tax deductions (bonuses), that NGOs can channel to their core social operations.  

The problem

In Italy, NGOs operate in outdated and energy-intensive buildings. Their daily focus on assisting vulnerable populations leaves little capacity to address energy efficiency, which poses a significant financial burden. Moreover, they lack dedicated governmental programs and economic support for energy transition. 

Impact

• Fabio advocates for NGOs in the energy transition, raising awareness among policymakers and advocating for their inclusion in national legislation for tax breaks and deductions on energy interventions.

• He developed an innovative methodology to strategically connect NGOs, communities, energy companies, and technical experts, facilitating both technical and social interventions.

• Through Fratello Sole, Fabio trains NGO managers and their beneficiaries to bridge the ecological divide and promote sustainable practices. 

• Through Fabio's advocacy and research, national guidelines on energy efficiency for NGOs have been established. He has begun replicating this partnership model with other civil society entities under the concept of Energy Communities. 

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About Maciej

Maciej has identified key levers in the food system of Poland and Central and Eastern Europe, driving innovation and adaptation across the production and distribution value chain of plant-based products. His efforts focus on improving human health and benefiting the environment. 

The problem

Human health and our environment are desperately in need of a radical shift to a more plant-based diet.

Impact

• Maciej understands that accelerating this shift in Poland, and Eastern and Central Europe, requires innovation at each stage of the food system, from government policies to agricultural production, to food processing, and ultimately distribution and retail. To reach each of these critical levers, Maciej and his organization RoślinnieJemy, serve as a hub for providing critical information to key actors, and simultaneously triggering the co-creation of new networks, systems, and products to advance plant-based products.

• This pragmatic approach has made Maciej a key ally of industry and government, including dairy and meat producers who in theory might not seem inclined to support shifts to plant-based products.

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About Mireia

Mireia is spearheading a transformation in the food loss and waste system, collaborating with farmers, policymakers, civil society organizations and agri-food companies to implement solutions across every link of the food chain. Her efforts focus on extending the lifecycle of food, aiming to reduce waste and promote sustainability throughout the food system. 

The problem

While over 10% of the global population faces chronic hunger, the WFP estimates that one-third of all food produced is wasted, with 40% of this waste occurring during primary production. Despite this, regulatory efforts to quantify and reduce food waste are scant, and industry standards prioritize cosmetic and physical appearance over nutritional and safety criteria. Socially, consumers remain largely unaware of these losses.

Impact

• Mireia aims to drive regulatory change and standardize quantification methods to activate a movement across the food chain. Her goal is to collect, quantify, and redistribute food loss, fostering a mindset shift from farm to fork. 

• Partnering with farmers and public administrations, she has formalized gleaning practices to collect and redistribute food surplus from fields. Leading the Law of Prevention of Food Losses and Food Waste in Catalonia, Mireia aims to establish it nationally.

• She also developed a methodology for agri-food companies to autonomously implement food loss prevention protocols, acknowledging their role in mitigating this issue. Her comprehensive approach spans regulatory advocacy, industry collaboration, and grassroots initiatives to combat food waste across the supply chain effectively.

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About Ugo

Ugo Vallauri is the connector and convener of a new European movement on electronic repair rights. He structured a coalition of over 100 community repair organizations to influence European policy makers to promote electrical and electronic repair regulation. In 2023 the coalition, led by Ugo, achieved the goal of legalizing the ‘right to repair’ in Europe. 

The problem

E-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream globally, with only 17.4% properly recycled. Reusing instead of just recycling is a more sustainable choice. The throwaway economy, strongly supported by electronics companies, makes affordable repairs difficult, posing a significant challenge for EU policymakers.

Impact

• Ugo's work focuses on community participation, campaigning, and raising public awareness. Restart Parties—events where fixers help repair devices—have been hosted across Europe.

• Ugo founded International Repair Day and the Open Repair Alliance, uniting over 100 repair organizations, which evolved into the European Right to Repair Campaign. He also led an open data strategy, providing a consistent database to inform public policy.

• This cultural shift engages communities in repair events, fostering a culture of sustainability and advocacy; builds a comprehensive repair knowledge base, enabling people to share and access repair information, reconstructing the "repair value chain" for over 100,000 categories; and mobilizes advocates to influence EU policymakers, pushing for regulations against e-waste and planned obsolescence. 

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About Aurel

Aurel envisions a society where data is treated as a common good, promoting a collaborative and sustainable economy. This vision aims to shift societal mindsets from viewing data as a private commodity to recognizing it as a shared resource. By addressing the inefficient and inequitable use of data, which causes environmental harm and economic disparities, Aurel seeks to transform social, economic, and political systems from competitive data ownership to cooperative, transparent sharing. This systemic change aims to reform company data handling and interrelations, pushing for global regulations that balance innovation with planetary boundaries. 

The problem

Inefficient data management and lack of transparency in corporate settings are deeply rooted in the digital and regulatory landscape. Companies face immense pressure from regulatory bodies, financial markets, and consumers to decarbonize their value chains. Transforming raw data into actionable information remains challenging due to data silos and the proprietary nature of data.

Impact

• Aurel's mission is to build an operating system for a more collaborative and sustainable economy by combining cutting-edge technology with innovative governance frameworks to enable secure multiparty data sharing without exposing sensitive information.

• By creating standardized protocols for data exchange, SINE enables regulatory bodies to access reliable information that can inform more effective policymaking. Strategic partnerships, such as with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), position SINE as a pivotal player in enhancing carbon transparency, fostering connections with decision-makers across global corporations.

• In partnership with the Partnership for Carbon Transparency (PACT), over half of Germany's top 500 companies have adopted SINE's governance model for Scope 3 emission reporting. This initiative has democratized access to sustainability benefits by ensuring equitable participation from all stakeholders—from small suppliers to large manufacturers—thereby changing the mindset from competitive secrecy towards cooperative transparency. 

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About David

David acknowledges the diversity within the Roma community, which has endured centuries of discrimination. Typically, non-Roma individuals lead efforts to address Roma issues, often focusing on the most vulnerable. David aims to change this narrative by targeting middle-class Roma individuals, seeking to shift perceptions and highlight their varied roles as artists, professionals, and contributors to society. 

The problem

The Roma community, Europe's largest ethnic minority, has historically faced persecution and marginalization, leading to significant underrepresentation and negative stereotypes.

Impact

• David works to reshape societal perceptions by creating cultural spaces that highlight Roma in non-stereotypical roles. His strategic focus on middle-class Roma empowers them to embrace their identity and challenge prevailing narratives, fostering visibility and acceptance. 

• This approach includes cultural promotion, leadership development, advocacy, and public sector training. His leadership academy enhances the skills and confidence of Roma NGO leaders. Through his advocacy efforts, he has secured new state funding for Roma organizations and established the Government Commissioner for Roma Minorities in Czechia.  

• David positions Roma artists on national platforms such as television, festivals, and Pride community events to increase their visibility. This achieves two key goals: 1) inspiring middle-class Roma to take pride in their identity, and 2) changing public perception to see Roma as more than just a marginalized group in need of help. David’s organization functions as an agency for Roma artists, ensuring their presence on these national stages. 

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About Stephanie

The Good Ancestor Movement disrupts the mainstream private wealth industry by challenging traditional ideas about the economy, excessive wealth accumulation, tax minimisation, and resource and power redistribution. As the UK's first advisory firm dedicated to supporting individuals and organizations in radical wealth redistribution, they aim to transform how wealth is managed and shared. 

The problem
 

Over the next 20-30 years, approximately £70 trillion is poised to transfer between generations, with £5.5 trillion in the UK alone. Concurrently, global wealth inequality escalates, with a minority amassing the largest concentrations of wealth. While extreme poverty draws considerable attention, less is focused on extreme wealth and its role in perpetuating global inequalities.

Impact

• The Good Ancestor Movement (GAM) addresses this root issue by reshaping norms and practices within the private wealth industry itself, challenging the concept and perpetuation of wealth.  

• GAM is spearheading a movement to engage with wealth holders and their advisors to end wealth concentration. They advocate for wealth redistribution through private giving and fair tax contributions, and champion investment in the solidarity economy.

• Their strategy encompasses three core initiatives: a consultancy guiding clients on wealth redistribution goals, the Reimagining Wealth Programme to educate wealth holders, and a Community of Practice uniting wealth practitioners and stakeholders to redefine wealth advisory practices. Together, they aim to establish a new paradigm for equitable wealth management and distribution. 

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About Valentina

Valentina is reshaping perceptions of people with disabilities, emphasizing inclusion over pity or heroism. She promotes a new narrative aimed at non-disabled people by showcasing inclusiveness in typically exclusive activities, such as sports. This approach benefits individuals with disabilities and caregivers, while also sparking public policy discussions about inclusivity in public spaces. 

The problem
 

Italy remains culturally ableist, with 3.1 million people facing daily physical and social limitations, leading to exclusion and segregation for them and their caregivers.

Impact

• Valentina's community, Tetrabondi, includes over 70,000 individuals—families, experts, caregivers, and citizens—dedicated to raising awareness about ableism. Through civic initiatives like inclusive walks and the wheelchair school, she collaborates with policymakers and the public to address cultural and urban barriers, leading to the creation of Italy's first Universal Inclusive Park in Rome.

• Valentina's advocacy demystifies disability, champions the right of people with disabilities to lead self-determined lives, and seeks adequate support for caregivers.

• She employs a communication style that is neither pitiful nor passive but rather provocative, sharing her daily experiences with her disabled son to challenge stereotypes and encourage those unaffected by disability to recognize biases.

• Through civic experiences that simulate physical disabilities, she engages public decision-makers to raise awareness. Valentina consolidates these efforts into a concrete urban intervention project: the creation of the first Italian Universal Inclusive Park, where disability is reframed as just another ability, allowing everyone to enjoy sports and embrace the 'right to adrenaline'.

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About Koen

Koen identified a significant lack of accessible climate education. Through Take Action Global (TAG), he is spearheading a global educational movement involving students and teachers to reform climate change curricula in schools worldwide. By connecting local climate initiatives with global empathy-building efforts, Koen aims to inspire meaningful change on a global scale. 

The problem

Quality education on climate change remains accessible to only a handful of schools globally, despite its far-reaching negative impacts affecting billions.

Impact

• Recognizing this disparity, Koen realized that fostering local awareness and facilitating global peer exchange could enhance youth understanding of this complex challenge. He initiated an educational movement leveraging technology to create a global, action-oriented learning experience connecting students and teachers, enabling them to share ideas and strategies for addressing climate change. 

• To date, over 3.4 million students and 21,000 teachers have participated in this educational journey, empowering students worldwide to pursue their own climate change initiatives. 

• Using methods such as collaborative learning, learning-by-doing and playful learning, the curriculum, translated into 14 languages, makes the subject accessible to young people aged 6 to 22. Students also can connect with peers in other parts of the world by visiting partner schools to understand the impact of climate change on their local environment. At the end of the six weeks, students present concrete projects to improve the environment in their area, with the presentations broadcast globally to share emerging solutions.

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About Marta

Marta empowers citizens to take responsibility for managing Poland's forests sustainably and holding the government accountable. By providing tools and information, she helps people become active agents in democracy, ensuring forests benefit everyone. 

The problem

In Poland, 80% of forests are state-owned and primarily focused on timber production, neglecting their social and ecological functions.

Impact

• Marta sees public forests as belonging to citizens, not the government. She believes citizens should be hosts, not guests, in these forests. Marta initiated a social movement to encourage people to take responsibility for forests and hold the government accountable. Her initiative, "Forests and Citizens," supports grassroots efforts and creates a new narrative about forests. When Marta first mapped local citizen forest initiatives, there were only 30 in Poland. Now, there are 441 initiatives nationwide.

• "Forests and Citizens" promotes a multi-perspective, eco-centric narrative about forests. During the 2023 election campaign, forest policy entered mainstream political debate for the first time, allowing voters to check candidates' positions on forest issues. Important forest management provisions were included in party programs.

• The "Let's Reclaim the Forest" manifesto, co-created by Marta and six CSOs (including organizations founded by Ashoka Fellows), and with input from over 250 local initiatives, was signed by candidates, 40 of whom are now MPs, and five Ministers in the 2024 government. 

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About Elena

Elena is reshaping societal and self-perceptions of individuals over 55, positioning them as indispensable contributors within their communities, and igniting a movement that celebrates their vitality and participation.  

The problem

It is estimated that the senior population (aged 55 or more) in the EU will increase by 30 to 50% by 2050. 

Impact

• As this implies significant pressures in economic and health systems, Elena has identified the need to transit from a three-stage life, towards a multi-stage longevity, where seniors can find spaces for long-life contribution, connections and wellbeing.

• With more than 40% of individuals in the EU between 55 and 64 years old inactive due to difficulties finding employment or forced retirement, Elena enables mature citizens to offer and match their unique talents to solve their communities’ most pressing issues in partnership with municipalities and private companies.  

• Through 55 Mais, town councils provide service hour vouchers to support stressed parents, offer language classes to immigrants, or alleviate burnout among part-time caregivers. This matching of senior talents with neighborhood needs facilitates community integration and social connections, restoring agency to seniors and showcasing their potential to younger generations often influenced by negative perceptions.

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About Martin

Martin has created a new way to engage, inform, and build bridges in Czechia’s healthcare ecosystem to accelerate the standardization of compassionate, evidence-based end-of-life care. His Center prioritizes scientific research and data collection on the needs and desires of terminally ill patients, using this knowledge to drive stakeholders to institutionalize patient-centered best practices. 

The problem

Although Czechia now has a good network of hospices, the adoption of palliative care best practices in hospitals, GP offices, and care homes has been slow due to the challenges posed by the legacy of communism.

Impact

• Martin’s Center has published over 50 research studies targeted at physicians and other healthcare professionals, often co-authored by international experts. The Center also offers palliative care training for healthcare professionals, informed by its research, with around 2,500 participants attending these courses annually. 

• He also engages the general public through communication campaigns that aim to normalize conversations about death among families and friends. Additionally, Martin has introduced the concept of "life check-ups," encouraging people to take stock of their lives and reflect on whether they are truly living the life they want.

• To date, seven medical schools, eight hospices, 26 hospitals, and 30 care homes have integrated these best practices thanks to Martin’s insights. Additionally, the Ministry of Health’s initiatives in this area are informed by the Center’s approach. 

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About Petra

Petra is reducing the prevalence and impact of violence against children by changing the way society understands and approaches the problem. Current systems around children address the challenge as one of child protection, which leads to stakeholders blaming each other and disempowering children. Petra offers a new approach that focuses instead on the wellbeing of children and their support systems, starting with family, and aligns all the stakeholders around that approach.  

The problem

More than 20% of children in the Czech Republic experience domestic violence by witnessing abuse and/or suffering it themselves. Yet a lack of consensus around where the line sits between discipline and abuse frustrates the implementation of a child-centered, preventative approach so that wellbeing is prioritized and cycles of violence are broken. Institutions meant to help children also operate in silos.

Impact

• Petra creates new channels for communication and cooperation amongst these institutions to build trust and an empathy-informed approach to ensure children are not re-traumatised.

• She also works with children, families, schools, communities, and government ministers so that everyone takes responsibility for prevention. This approach emphasizes all stakeholders’ wellbeing and the importance of transparency and collaboration to break cycles of violence.

• Petra also engages in public communication campaigns to highlight everyone’s role in shifting behavior and ensuring that each young person lives a childhood free from violence. 

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About Federico

For generations, LGBTQ+ seniors have been invisible and unable to safely create a community. Federico is changing the mindset that has kept this system in place, by putting LGBTQ+ seniors in charge of building new opportunities for themselves to co-create and lead their best, authentic lives.

The problem

Despite gradual legal and cultural shifts towards inclusivity, LGBTIQ+ seniors remain largely invisible, leading to a lack of supportive policies and resources. This results in a higher proportion of LGBTQ+ seniors living alone and significantly higher suicide rates.

Impact

• Drawing from his own experiences with age and gender diversity discrimination, Federico is creating spaces at community, private, and government levels to ensure the integration and self-identification of LGBTIQ+ seniors. He aims to align laws and public regulations with a new model of inclusive longevity, fostering a supportive environment for healthy and active aging. 

• At the core of his strategy is connecting LGBTQ+ seniors with their closest environment, including family and community members. He creates safe drop-in spaces embedded in the local socio-cultural fabric, where different generations can interact and collaborate.

• Federico does so through community centers' activities led by young volunteers, both seniors and youth discover, discuss, and initiate projects. This enables the elderly to contribute to local activities while the youth learn from their wisdom and experiences, fostering intergenerational understanding and support.

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About Sam & Maxime

Sam and Maxime founded Communa to address the growing problem of vacant buildings and expensive housing in Europe. They introduced "Temporary Use with a Social Purpose" (TUSP), which consists of temporarily using vacant office or housing buildings, owned by private or public actors, to serve local communities’ and especially vulnerable populations’ needs. 

The problem

Across Europe, more and more buildings are becoming vacant, while it is becoming increasingly expensive to rent and live in them. These developments exclude a growing number of people in precarious housing situations in urban areas and have led to an increase in illegal occupation of buildings.

Impact

• Communa has worked with 20 buildings, provided housing for 1,000 refugees and 200 homeless people, and enabled more than 250 social organisations to set up or operate in their spaces.

• They are increasingly building international networks to spread their TUSP model to like-minded actors and to advise cities on how to deal effectively with abandoned or empty urban spaces.

• By collaborating with public and private landowners and using temporary occupancy as an experimental phase, they aim to shape final plans for vacant buildings, demonstrating their potential long-term uses.

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About Federico

Federico is reshaping the narrative around "care leavers" in Italy—young adults transitioning from state-supported care to independence—through the Care Leavers Network (CLN). By empowering these individuals as "experts by experience," Federico enables them to influence policies and societal perceptions. 

The problem

In 2020, approximately 7,000 young individuals transitioned from Italy's child protection system, facing challenges in achieving autonomy due to limited governmental support in employment, education, and housing.

Impact

• Federico’s organization, Agevolando, addresses these gaps by providing material and financial assistance, including housing programs, and fostering active participation of care leavers in policymaking through the CLN peers' network.

• Guided by principles of audience, influence, and advocacy, every CLN activity aims to generate proposals for the relevant audience. The peer group drives efforts to foster agency awareness and advance advocacy, ensuring care leavers are heard and their needs addressed.

• Federico's approach has been effective, with 65% of care leavers finding primary social connections within the network and 56% engaging in volunteer experiences, significantly surpassing their general Italian peers.

• A notable achievement of CLN is the enactment of the Italian National Law on leaving care in 2017 and the establishment of the National Experimental New Adult Fund, which received an allocation of 5 million euros for three years.

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About Marine

Marine is cultivating a new generation of environmental advocates through her initiative, Wild Legal. She simplifies and promotes the Rights of Nature, a growing legal field, by providing law students with practical experience through mock trials on real cases. As the rights of nature legal framework gains momentum, Marine is preparing a cadre of professionals ready to implement this transformative legal system designed to protect the environment. 

The problem

Marine aims to redefine the legal framework governing the relationship between humanity and nature, moving beyond the Western utilitarian approach that overlooks planetary limitations.

Impact

• Marine uses the Rights of Nature movement to foster a new legal system ensuring environmental preservation. Through Wild Legal, Marine produces accessible tools like books, activities, conferences, and trainings to prepare young lawyers to become guardians of natural entities once they are granted rights.

• Marine also effectively engages policymakers, participating in the Citizen Convention for the Climate and drafting law proposals with French Parliament members. Her efforts as an expert advisor have raised awareness of ecocide, advocating for its recognition as a criminal offense. 

• This shift in thinking involves empathizing with natural entities by viewing them as subjects entitled to universal rights, rather than mere objects for human use, disregarding their safety. She engages law students who are interested in the emerging field of Rights of Nature law.

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About Mariasole

Mariasole leads marine conservation efforts in Italy by innovating the conservation system through SEATY, a model combining biologically restored areas with training initiatives to achieve the international 30X30 goal, of protecting 30% of oceans by 2030. She is fostering large-scale public policy changes through multi-stakeholder alliances aimed at transforming humanity's relationship with the ocean. 

The problem

Marine ecosystems are under serious threat, compounded by a widespread lack of awareness regarding the ocean's vital role in sustaining life on Earth. The urgency of the '30x30' conservation goal is evident, yet in Italy, disjointed international and national environmental organizations lack a cohesive systemic approach. 

Impact

• Mariasole's expertise in scientific communication has propelled Worldrise to the forefront of marine protection in Italy, engaging communities in science-based initiatives. Through various platforms including books, podcasts, TV appearances, and as a STEM ambassador, she reconnects people with the ocean.

• SEATY enhances Marine Protected Areas by implementing stricter management plans and establishing new conservation zones. Mariasole, through Worldrise's educational initiatives, has engaged over 7,800 young participants, half of whom joined ocean camps and received mentorship for personal projects.

• Emphasizing awareness, alliances, and policy influence, Mariasole fosters a new generation of “blue changemakers” through educational activities. Leading Italy's involvement in the 30X30 international campaign, she promotes collaboration among 60+ conservation groups and offers capacity building to Italian marine conservation associations, fostering inclusive action for marine protection. 

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About Eric

With the Convention des Entreprises pour le Climat (in English, the Business Convention for Climate), Eric is building a new community of visionary business leaders, willing to reach prosperity by combining a heightened consciousness of global challenges and connection to their inner purposes. His ultimate goal is to achieve a mindset shift among corporate leaders to establish the regenerative economy model as the prevailing and irresistible standard. 

The problem

Recognizing the pivotal role that companies play in confronting the climate crisis, Eric's strategy involves enlisting influential business leaders in an experience aimed at transforming their mindsets.

Impact

• CEC training and workshop sessions are grounded in two objectives. The first is to facilitate a deep self-examination among participants, fostering a receptive mindset primed for embracing transformative change. The second centers on the establishment of a balance between economic viability and environmental sustainability within their business and leadership practices, built upon the principles of a regenerative economy. So far, 300 top leaders have been on a transformative journey towards adopting regenerative practices.  

• The initiative's influence has expanded significantly to encompass several regions within France. As of August 2023, there are five active cohorts. This extension owes much to the enthusiastic engagement of former participants who, having completed the program, tapped into their changemaking spirit beyond their own companies, and chose to contribute as volunteers to the CEC's growth.

• Their involvement takes various forms, including program development, financial support, or sharing best practices with other organizations. This commitment underscores the far-reaching effects CEC generates. In total, the ripple effect has touched the lives of around 300,000 employees. 

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