Grant asked me some time ago, and he has been quite patient, if I would share with the group what I have been up to since I left the south end of the RB. So here's the scoop...
I came out to D.C. to take an internship with an organization I had admired from afar for some time. The name of the organization is Ashoka, named after an Indian king in the 3rd century B.C. who was very progressive in terms of serving the public good, renouncing war, and dedicating his life to social welfare. The Ashoka I work for describes itself as the "global association of the world's leading social entrepreneurs-- men and women with system changing solutions for the world's most urgent social problems." What does that mean? A social entrepreneur is often compared to a business entrepreneur with a similar sense of innovation, ambition, and tenacity in pursuing their vision and in creating practical institutions around their idea but in the case of a social entrepreneur the primary motivation and drive is in response to a social problem. A quote from the founder, Bill Drayton, summarizes it nicely, he says, speaking of these social entrepreneurs, "they are not content to give a man a fish, or teach him how to fish, they will not rest until they have revolutionized the fishing industry." The industries being health, education, human rights, the environment etc.
A few examples of their fellows in health:
Abel Albino is a physician in Argentina who was troubled with the status of childhood malnutrition in his country and responded by developing an entire system of lactation clinics and low cost "micro-hospitals" which are extremely efficient and cost effective due to a creative engagement of community volunteers and probono medical services.
Rani Bang was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005 but Ashoka discovered her in 1984 at the very beginning of her work. She revolutionized health care in a poor rural area in India by building health services were designed by listening to the wants and needs of the local people, creating a unique blend of traditional medicine, government, and private services.
Rita Sembuya in Uganda has been the first to systematically respond to the unaddressed and complex issue of infertility in her country.
Every Ashoka Fellow has an amazing story and is doing absolutely incredible work. I enjoy being in their international headquarters to meet and hear the stories of their Fellows when they come through the office. If anyone ever wants to hear more feel free to get in touch and I'd be happy to spout off a few more. Go Cougs.
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