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International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
To commemorate International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2008, Ashoka recognizes the role of Ashoka Fellows who are making real and sufficient progress towards ending poverty.
These Ashoka Fellows are representative of social entrepreneurs around the world who are finding economic opportunities for less advantaged communities through youth education, business development, citizen participation, and volunteerism. Ashoka takes this opportunity to raise awareness of their ground-breaking approaches and relentless commitment to creating a more just and prosperous world for all.
Marcelo Mario Caldano, Argentina
Cooperativa Olga Cossettini
Inspired by Gandhi's call for a system that depended on production by the masses, Marcelo designed an alternative economic plan for poverty-stricken areas where money is limited. His plan relies on a new kind of currency to build and sustain schools, public institutions, and citizen sector organizations. Rather than paying cash, participating members contribute work hours to deliver services. Argentina’s economic crisis has left few institutions with the funds to serve urgent public needs. Marcelo's idea not only provides these needed resources, but also initiates an important mindset shift: value is ascribed to the nonfinancial contributions of each member.
Franz Dullinger, Germany
Elected as the youngest municipal council member in Bavaria, Franz is reforming European Union (EU) and regional political processes in economically weak regions of Germany, helping citizens take charge of their own development. Franz empowers local networks to directly apply for the distribution of EU funding, skipping the state and federal levels through which the money normally travels. In addition to money, his initiative has established a network of engaged people that are creating an atmosphere of activity and innovation. Currently, he is spreading his model to other structurally weak regions in Germany and other parts of the EU.
Anselm Rosario, India
Ragpicker's Education and Development Scheme (REDS)
Anslem gave up a career in hotel management to help youth scavengers in his home city of Bangalore. He is developing non-institutional ways of helping these children adjust and grow by working with youth at the micro level, by encouraging cross-agency collaboration, and through new recycling programs that provide these scavengers with a viable economic base. Without such training these street children find it difficult to move into the formal economy. Anselm's work has helped 20% of participating youth find new jobs and an additional 15% cut their scavenging back to seasonal supplementation while earning in new source of income.
Beverly Moodie, South Africa
Business Outreach
After successfully launching her own sewing machine business, Beverly decided to address the related problems of skills, confidence, and resources for the lower and middle classes. Today, Beverley is training disadvantaged, unemployed South Africans to start their own small business ventures – providing a service that builds self-sufficiency and hope. Her approach leads trainees to their own decisions while simultaneously matching people with skills that can effectively put money in their pockets. Acknowledging the reality that people are not guaranteed employment, this method helps break a cycle of poverty and provides people with the tools necessary to sustain and employ themselves.