Erlijn holds a Master in Industrial Engineering & Management Sciences from the Technical Univerity of Eindhoven and a Masters degree in South East Asian language and culture at the University of Leiden. She started her career in the corporate sector, working as a financial and strategic advisor for major Dutch companies like ABN, KLM Dutch Airlines and the national government. In 2006, she co-founded Microcredit for Mothers, a foundation catering to the poorest of the poor women in Southeast Asia, reaching out to thousands of families. For the last ten years she has been working in the traditional NGO sector as corporate-partnership manager and program-manager. Next to that, she was interim MD for Banking with the Poor Network in Singapore, StoereVrouwen, en HandOn Microkrediet.
Change has always been occurring within human systems and is a fundamental aspect of our nature. Today’s change, though, is transforming the way we live, work and interact with each other at an accelerated rate.
Some may view this as a source of worry and despair. Ashoka sees it as an opportunity to create an ‘Everyone a Changemaker’ world. A world where we can equip more people, including younger ones, with the skillset and a connection to purpose so that they can contribute ideas and effectively solve problems in their environment - be it in their family, community, city, workplace, field, industry, country, or beyond. A world where people and institutions will thrive.
Our vision and understanding of the world comes from Ashoka’s experience in pioneering the field of social entrepreneurship over the last 35 years— finding, selecting, and supporting the world’s leading social innovators (Ashoka Fellows). Our network of 3,500+ fellows based in more than 90 countries are currently implementing system-changing solutions to social, cultural and environmental challenges on a global scale.
Ashoka Netherlands, part of the Ashoka European diamond, was launched in 2014 and has since elected 11 fellows who are bringing innovative system-changing solutions within their regions, nations and internationally.
Our Programs

Ashoka Venture and Fellowship
SELECTING AND SUPPORTING LEADING INNOVATORS
HOW DO WE IDENTIFY LEADERS CHANGING THE SYSTEMS?
Ashoka engages the world’s largest and most powerful network of social entrepreneurs by searching for and selecting the world’s leading social entrepreneurs: Ashoka Fellows. Ashoka pioneered the field of social entrepreneurship almost 40 years ago, and today it continues to build the largest global network of leading social entrepreneurs.
Ashoka searches the world for leading social entrepreneurs through an intensive, human-centered process, selecting them into our global, trust-based fellowship of peers. Across the globe, we use the following selection criteria and the process (Venture process) to elect Ashoka Fellows:
Since launching Ashoka in the Netherlands in 2014, we have elected and supported a number of Dutch social innovators who are bringing system change in the Netherlands and beyond.
ENABLING ENTREPRENEURS TO CHANGE SYSTEMS AND LEAD US INTO A WORLD IN WHICH EVERYONE CAN BE A CHANGEMAKER
We make sure that the Ashoka brand, the engagements we curate and facilitate, and the connections we open are valuable to each Fellow. We invite Fellows to make the most of the network through interactions that will increase their chances for deepening their social impact.
ASHOKA NETHERLANDS IS DELIVERING VALUE FOR OUR FELLOWS IN ACROSS 5 KEY AREAS:

Ashoka Changemaker Schools
We believe that anyone can become a changemaker and we strive for a world in which every young person is equipped and inclined to contribute to the common good. In order to empower every young person to become a changemaker, we need to change the way in which we educate young people. Ashoka launched the Changemaker Schools Programme in 2012 to build a community of education institutions that prioritize the cultivation of empathy, teamwork, leadership, and changemaking in their students.
Ashoka Netherlands has selected 9 Changemaker Schools. Once selected, the schools are connected with each other and with Ashoka’s community of social entrepreneurs and supporters from different sectors with the aim of reshaping the traditional education system.

Ashoka Support Network
The Ashoka Support Network (ASN) is a global community of successful, innovative leaders from a variety of fields, who connect with the world's leading social entrepreneurs to accelerate positive social change. They support Ashoka financially as well as strategically, offering their time, network and expertise.
In the Netherlands, we have a strong community of ASN members who provide their guidance and expertise to Ashoka Fellows and Changemaker Schools, supporting them to amplify their social impact. They do so in several key ways:
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Providing Mentorship
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Building Networks for Fellows
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Becoming Ambassadors for Fellows and Ashoka
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Sitting on Advisory Boards
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Investing Resources
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Bringing in Expertise
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Building New Partnerships
Globally, the Ashoka Support Network consists of over 400 members in 20 countries throughout Europe, North America, South America, India, and beyond - as it continues to expand.
Are you a business leader and do you want to share your expertise?
Join the Ashoka Support Network in the Netherlands; a network of experts, entrepreneurs and professionals supporting the world's top social innovators.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected] to learn more about how members bring value to and benefit from the Ashoka Support Network.

Ashoka Changemaker Alliances
We build Co-Creation & Changemaker Alliances where social entrepreneurs, businesses, and policy makers complement each other’s skills and expertise to take on challenges that no one could solve alone, and simultaneously have access to new strategic win-win opportunities.
Team
Erlijn Sie
Director, Ashoka Netherlands
Noa Lodeizen
Youth Years Strategist, Ashoka Europe
I am a social entrepreneur and I get inspired daily by the possibilities of this era. My entrepreneurial spirit grows when I encounter injustice, see opportunities and, in particular if the problems seem to be so complex that we needs to solve them outside existing frameworks.
I am founder of several initiatives. Two years ago Ashoka rewarded me with a fellowship. My fellowship was because of my efforts and results with Young in Prison. I founded the organisation Young in Prison in 2002 with the believe that the world needs to urgently rethink its definition of juvenile justice. Aware of the impact of detention on the youth.
Currently I am part of the Ashoka team. I have successfully handed over the Young in Prison and am working on developing the Visionary Program on Circular Economy.
Our partners



Contact
NDSM-Plein 32
1033 WB Amsterdam
Netherlands