Ashoka in Southern Africa

Our longest running and cornerstone program is Venture and Fellowship, through which we select catalytic social entrepreneurs, with the potential to not only achieve impact in their organization, but transform systems. Ashoka Fellows are leading social entrepreneurs who are tackling the toughest challenges facing society today. Since launching Ashoka in Southern Africa, we have elected and supported over 130 social innovators.

Ashoka’s Venture program begins with a proactive search and rigorous selection process to find the next Fellows to join the Ashoka community. Each year we receive over 100 nominations and applications in the region.  

The  Fellowship program offers financial and non-financial strategic support to its members. Our focus in on leveraging our network of peers and supporters, honing in key topics such as systems-change, financial and personal sustainability, and providing strategic opportunities to Fellows throughout their careers and stages of development as the non-financial support is not time bound. A Fellow may be at an inflection point to get an innovative idea off the ground or may have already achieved national impact and made a “scratch on history” with their idea.  

>Selection and support of Ashoka Fellows

 >Check our Ashoka Fellows from Southern Africa 

>Recommend a Fellow

"Ashoka has been instrumental in providing me the space and tools needed to personally grow as a social entrepreneur. Facilitating priceless interactions with like minded and driven changemakers and supporting my needs as a business owner enabling me to take my business to the next level”

~ Claire Reid, Reel Gardening, Fellow Since 2018

Ashoka Young Changemakers are a carefully selected network of young people between the ages of 12 and 20 years, who have found their power to create change for the good of all, and who are engaging their peers and the entire society in realizing a world where everyone is a changemaker. We hold the belief that one of the most effective ways to improve the lives of young people and the world at large is to empower them to realize their own ability to create positive social change.

More broadly, Ashoka Southern Africa has engaged and supported over 100 Young Leaders through a variety of support programs, gatherings and visibility. We are aiming at cultivating and building an eco-system that supports youth to be changemakers. Through their initiatives, Young Changemakers become role models in their community, proving that it is possible to be actively engaged and to Lead Young. Beyond their immediate surrounding, they also convey their message of change by participating in large outreach events or campaigns in Africa.

>Nomination and selection criteria

"I learnt a lot about social change. As a young person, I had an idea of what social change is but I realised that I not fully understand it until I attended the Ashoka Young Changemakers event.  I have learnt a lot about community development and how we as young people can empower each other on journeys to become change makers. Through Ashoka Young Changemakers, I was also exposed to the different challenges and struggles that other communities and people face in different countries and regions."

~Thabiso Maboate, Ashoka Young Changemaker  

Changemaker Schools is a global network of schools that are integrating 21st century skills such as empathy, leadership and teamwork into the school system, culture and curriculum. Changemaker School leaders become co-creators in the global movement reimagining quality education so all young people emerge as changemakers.

We believe that anyone can become a Changemaker and we want every young person to be equipped and inclined to work for the common good, whether in their family, community, country or across the whole world. Changemaker Schools enable all students to become changemakers—young people who have the skills and confidence to change the world for the good of all.

Students are learning the essential skills of empathy, creativity, leadership and teamwork at Changemaker Schools so that they can thrive in the modern world and find solutions to our most complex problems. We have adapted our methodology for selecting Ashoka Fellows to identify and select a global network of Changemaker Schools.

The Southern African office has elected eight Changemaker Schools, seven Primary Schools and one Secondary School. We work to connect these schools and support them in leading the transformation of learning in the Southern African region and beyond.

Check our Changemaker Schools pioneering education in Southern Africa 

Discover the  Changemaker Schools program around the world 

Ashoka Africa Builders is a community of successful and innovative leaders from the corporate, investment or public sectors who connect with Ashoka’s leading social entrepreneurs to accelerate positive social change. They support Ashoka financially as well as strategically, offering their network, time and expertise. 

Based on the success of the Ashoka Support Network around the world (ASN), Ashoka Africa is in the process of launching a committed and collaborative community of Ashoka Builders who are eager to roll up their sleeves and support Ashoka, Ashoka Fellows, young leaders and Changemaker schools on the continent intensify and scale their impact. 

Are you a business leader and do you want to share your expertise?

Join the founding circle of Ashoka Africa Builders Network in Southern Africa. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us to learn more about how members bring value to and benefit from the Ashoka network, and email [email protected] with any questions about the program. 

Ashoka Africa Builders Brochure

Read about the ASN

The Ashoka Africa Impact Report highlights our work and impact in Africa for 2021. It serves as an overview of all the above mentioned programmes, eco-system building events, Fellows, Young Changemakers and network of supporters.

Read the Full Report Here

We were so proud to introduce three new Fellows to our family of Changemakers this year. On November 9th, we officially welcomed Thembiso Magajana of Social Coding SA, Dixon Chibanda of Friendship Bench Zimbabwe and Murendeni Mafumo of Kusini Waters SA to Ashoka Fellowship.