Ashoka's Impact Snapshot


To date, Ashoka has selected more than 3,700 social entrepreneurs in more than 90 countries, whose systems-changing innovations solve deep-rooted social problems. We surveyed all of our Fellows on the impact that Ashoka has had on them.

 

 

A map of the distribution of Ashoka Fellows across the world in 2018

Ashoka Arab World Fellowship Standout Figures:

88% of AAW Fellows shared that the stipend helped them to focus on their idea.

84% of AAW Fellows expanded their teams since election, and 70% have expanded by 2x or more.

29% have partnered directly with other Ashoka Fellows.

#1 most important service from Ashoka according to AAW Fellows: Connections to the regional and global Fellowship community.

Fellows Breakdown by Gender:  44 Female - 37%

                                                     74 Male  - 63%

 

Arab World

Spotlights on Ashoka Arab World's Impact

Arab World

Ahmad Edilbi

Leveraging Ashoka’s global network, Ashoka Arab World collaborated with Ashoka Canada and a local changemaker campus in 2016 to support our Syrian Fellow Edward “Ahmad” Edilbi to relocate, under pressure of security concerns, to Canada and continue his work building solidarity among Syrian refugees and diaspora.  

Arab World

Sarah Toumi

Ashoka Arab World nominated Tunisian Fellow Sarah Toumi for the Schwab Award for Social Entrepreneurship and the Echoing Green Fellowship. She ultimately received both accolades, and since then has been acknowledged by the Forbes 30 under 30 Europe List and the Rolex Awards for Enterprise. 

Arab World

Reda Shoukry

In 2010, Ashoka Arab World connected Egyptian Fellow Reda El Shoukry with a direct funding opportunity with our partner the Ursula Zindel Hilti Foundation. The Foundation has been funding Reda’s organization for more than eight years. 

Arab World

Khalid Al Khudair, Mohamed Zaazoue, Kamel al-Asmar

In 2014, Ashoka Arab World convened three Fellows - Mohamed Zaazoue, Kamel al-Asmar, and Khalid Al Khudair - in Dubai and connected them in a series of meetings with the highest executives and business leaders in the Gulf.

Fida Abu Turkey- Palestine-Ashoka Fellow 2011

Organization: Iradah Palestinian Center for Communication & Development Strategies

Sector: Economic Empowerment

Impact Snapshot

  • Over 100% increase in number of people directly employed by her organization
  • Fida has expanded to 2 countries
  • Fida’s budget doubles every year
  • Fida works with at least 500 women every year
  • Change in policy: Fida’s target group is now part of the Palestinian National Plan
Ashoka Arab World Fellows
Ashoka Arab World Fellows

The Problem

The majority of women in the Levant face barriers - such as high pregnancy rates, gender gaps in literacy, less access to job opportunities, and limited political representation - that limit their entrance into the formal labor force. 

Ashoka Arab World Fellows

Systems-changing idea

In a region that more traditionally depends on charities and loans, Fida was the first to adapt business incubation for the Levantine context - boosting job creation, supporting more women entrepreneurs and diversifying local economies. Fida’s mission is to economically empower women in rural areas of the Levant through a grassroots venture capitalist approach. 

Ashoka Arab World Fellows

The Vision

That the women targeted become visible members of society working to raise and improve the socioeconomic development of their country and that her venture capitalist model be replicated outside of the Levant, across the region.

"Ashoka's Fellowship has impacted me on both personal and professional levels. On the personal level, I have gained great skills due to the capacity buildings I had directly from Ashoka. It has greatly influenced and molded me to the person I am now. As for the professional level, I have gained some great knowledge and information from Ashoka's events and Fellows, and have applied all the knowledge and skills that I have gained on the personal level. Ashoka's Fellowship has impacted my personality and work in general, and it has had a great influence on my life in general."  Fida Abu Turkey

 

Adnane Addioui - Morocco - Ashoka Fellow 2017

Organization: Tamkeen

Sector: Job creation; education

Impact Snapshot 

  • Expanded to 5 countries
  • Putting young people in charge: “One of our youngest volunteers - 17 years old - was in charge of recruiting the new CEO of the organization”
  • 10% increase in annual budget
  • 100% in number of employees since his election
  • Reaches around 10,000 young people every year
Adnane Addioui
Ashoka Arab World Fellows

The Problem

The high number of unemployed youth in Morocco has caused instability at social, economic, and political levels. High school and university graduates are not being equipped with the problem-solving and analytical skills necessary to enter the job market and have a passive mindset that leads them to rely on the government to secure jobs for them.

Ashoka Arab World Fellows

Systems-changing idea

Working directly with schools as well as individual students, Adnane drives a more innovative educational system and fosters changemaking mindsets in youth. He is encouraging a focus on creativity and student-led innovation in schools through a training program that explores community, business, and personal development and engages all school stakeholders to achieve lasting change.

Ashoka Arab World Fellows

The Vision

To transform individual student mindsets as well as create a more creative and innovation-oriented education system.

Zeinab Almomany- Jordan - Ashoka Fellow 2009

Organization: Sakhrah Women’s Society Cooperative

Sector: Economic Empowerment

Impact Snapshot

  • Increased number of cooperatives across Jordan from 7 to 22 cooperatives 
  • Increased number of members of “Specific Union for Female Farmers” to 5,000 
  • Established a women farmers network in 5 countries: Jordan, Morocco, Egypt, Palestine, and Lebanon
  • Scaled Up for the legal amendment that has made land rental an acceptable condition for individuals to join unions, breaking down institutional barrier keeping women from participation in unions.
Ashoka Fellow Photo
Ashoka Arab World Fellows

The Problem

In many Arab countries, women face obstacles to achieving economic independence, including traditional gender ideologies, reduced access to education, and a lack of support from existing institutional and legal frameworks. Even more prevalent conservative social norms in rural areas prevent women from working outside of the home or seeking opportunities for education.

Ashoka Arab World Fellows

Systems-changing idea

Zeinab has organized the first agricultural union in the Arab region, creating a platform to amplify Jordanian women’s voices and providing opportunities for them to start their own income-generating activities. Through this union and additional agricultural cooperatives, she has shifted the perception of women’s roles in rural communities, empowered them to participate in decision-making processes, and provided training and marketing support.

Ashoka Arab World Fellows

The Vision

To replicate her model throughout the Arab region in order to increase women’s access to economic and social opportunities and organize self-sustaining organizations that enable women to leverage their collective power.

“After being an Ashoka Fellow, I got many benefits, and many opportunities were opened to me. The stipend helped me a lot in developing my work. With this stipend, I was able to expand my work horizontally and vertically. I completed my master’s study and improved my English, and developed my skills and capacity. Now, I am a trainer in business leadership and innovation.” Zeinab Almomany

 

Magda Iskander - Egypt - Ashoka Fellow 2003

Organization: Care With Love

Sector: Job creation, economic empowerment; health

Impact Snapshot 

  • Provided 53,604 hours of home health care services to those who needed it
  • Trained 30 new caregivers
  • Increase in number of people employed from 12 to 158
  • Mindset shift in community - changed the way community perceives home healthcare
  • More than 18,000 people were trained through Magda and organizations that have adopted her model
  • More than 10 organizations have adopted her model
  • Change in Law responsible for recognition of Home Health Care Provider as a profession by the Office of Labor

 

Ashoka Arab World Fellows
Ashoka Arab World Fellows

The Problem

A large number of Egypt’s population over the age of 60 requires assisted-living or home healthcare, but the country’s healthcare system lacks quality services, and private care has become increasingly expensive. Most doctors and nurses are not reliable and do not understand the compassion needed to support this population. 

Ashoka Arab World Fellows

Systems-changing idea

Magda has established an entirely new profession in Egypt - that of home healthcare providers who are providing high-quality care to the elderly and others who are homebound. Through a comprehensive curriculum, she is creating jobs and transforming the country’s healthcare system by training providers to integrate care and compassion into their practice. 

Ashoka Arab World Fellows

The Vision

To transfer a mindset focused on compassion and effectively train a large network of home healthcare providers, widening opportunities for employment in Egypt and ensuring that the population in need of home healthcare receives quality attention and assistance.

"Being chosen as an Ashoka Fellow was an affirmation for my initiative to introduce organized and accountable home health care services to the Egyptian Community through Care with Love. Ashoka made me known to the outside world. Since we started in 1997, we have provided more than 10 million service hours.” Magda Iskander

Sameh Seif Ghali - Egypt - Ashoka Fellow 2006

Organization: Together Association

Sector: Environment; civic participation

Impact Snapshot 

  • Increased the number of people employed directly by his organization from 3 to 28
  • 80% increase in annual budget since his election as Ashoka Fellow
  • Impacts the lives of around 7,000 people every year
  • Expanded his model to Germany
  • Change in Policy: Sameh’s model is now part of the government projects in the Egyptian villages.
Photo of Sameh Ghali, Ashoka Fellow in Egypt
Ashoka Arab World Fellows

The Problem

The lack of sewage systems is one of the major causes of high levels of pollution in Egypt and has had negative consequences on rural communities. In many villages, sewage waste affects groundwater used for drinking and other agricultural needs. Poverty, low-quality education, and current government policies inhibit the application of technologies that could mitigate this environmental challenge and the attached health-related risks.

Ashoka Arab World Fellows

Systems-changing idea

Sameh has introduced new technologies into rural areas, building and maintaining low-cost sewage systems tailored to village contexts as well as inviting communities to participate directly in establishing a framework for sanitation.

Ashoka Arab World Fellows

The Vision

To cultivate a sense of ownership and pride among rural and village populations, engaging community members in decision-making processes to improve their local environment, public health, and quality of life.

Mostafa Farahat- Egypt - Ashoka Fellow 2015

Organization: Nafham

Sector: Education, ICT

Impact Snapshot:

  • Increased number of employees by 200% since his election
  • Active in 5 countries
  • Annual budget increased by 17% since his election as Ashoka Fellow in 2016
  • 1 million monthly active users on his platform
  • Nafham’s online learning style for school is currently adopted by many governments in the Arab region
Ashoka Arab World Fellows
Ashoka Arab World Fellows

The Problem

With around 19 million students and only 8% in private schools, Egypt’s education system suffers from low-quality and rigid conventional teaching styles. Schools lack the technological resources to support teaching and meaningfully engage the growing number of students.

Ashoka Arab World Fellows

Systems-changing idea

The first to use the “crowd-teaching” model in Egypt, Mostafa encourages communities to take responsibility for their education. He is transformed access to Arabic content online and dramatically expanded technological resources for educators and students through his online platform.

Ashoka Arab World Fellows

The Vision

To democratize access to education in the Arab world and instill in teachers, parents, and students a responsibility for the development of innovative learning opportunities and value for education.