Rotary and Ashoka Collaborate to Improve Communities Globally

Rotary Logo
Source: Rotary Logo

EVANSTON, Ill. June 1, 2018 — Rotary and Ashoka today announced a new partnership that will promote opportunities for networking and collaboration between Rotary entities and Ashoka in countries around the world where they both have a presence and where collaboration is necessary to help address critical social and economic challenges.

The collaboration may include Rotary members support of Ashoka Fellows' social entrepreneurship endeavors, development and implementation of Rotary Club or district sponsored projects, and training or knowledge exchange between Ashoka Fellows and Rotary members with relevant expertise or country knowledge. During the one-year partnership pilot, Ashoka Fellows may also help Rotary members develop innovative ideas to enhance Rotary club projects. Rotary members may, in turn, introduce Ashoka Fellows to pivotal community members and provide support for social ventures through hands-on volunteerism and community empowerment.

“Rotary empowers people who want to change the world for the better, by giving them the autonomy, vision and resources to act on their goodwill,” said Rotary General Secretary John Hewko. “Once you empower strong citizens, it is remarkable what they can accomplish. We look forward to the increased impact we can make alongside Ashoka in communities that need it most.”

“Ashoka Fellows tackle complex challenges and create systems changing solutions,” globally,” said Diana Wells, president of Ashoka. “This partnership will support the integration of Ashoka fellows into the fabric of communities in which they live and work and Rotary members who live in these communities can provide knowledge and unmatched resources to support their efforts to provide lasting positive change.”

Rotary members develop and implement sustainable projects that fight disease, promote peace, provide clean water, support education, save mothers and children, and grow local economies. More than $221 million awarded over the past several years through The Rotary Foundation, support these programs.

Ashoka joins a list of Rotary service partners including, Habitat for Humanity the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, Peace Corps, Dollywood Foundation, the Global FoodBanking Network, and Youth Service America (YSA).

About Rotary

Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 35,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world.

About Ashoka

Ashoka is leading the way to an "Everyone a Changemaker" World. As the world's largest network of changemakers and social innovators with more than 3,600 social entrepreneurs in more than 90 countries, Ashoka aims to bring about large-scale social change. Ashoka supports innovators to get started, grow their ideas, collaborate, reshape whole systems and influence societal transformation. Founded in 1980 with the belief that the most powerful force in the world is a big idea in the hands of an entrepreneur, Ashoka applies insights from the world's leading social entrepreneurs to set in motion profound societal transformation. Current insights indicate that our rapidly changing world calls for an "Everyone a Changemaker" world, one where every person practices the critical skills of empathy, teamwork, leadership and changemaking. For more information on Ashoka, please visit www.ashoka.org. Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Rotary contact: Chanele Williams 847-866-3466 [email protected].

Ashoka contact: Terry Donovan, [email protected].