Meet our 2019 Ashoka Fellows in Europe
Ashoka has elected social entrepreneurs with innovative ideas with a systemic impact in Europe for 25 years.
This year’s Ashoka Fellows have been selected from 8 countries: 1 in Belgium, 1 in France, 2 in Germany, 2 in Italy, 1 in Romania, 4 in Spain, 3 in Turkey and 2 in United Kingdom.
They propose disruptive and innovative system-changing ideas across 7 sectors: active citizenship, education, environment, healthcare, media and journalism, social inequalities and use of technology.
We are excited to introduce 2019’s European Ashoka Fellows:
Alberto Alemanno. The Good Lobby, Belgium (Active Citizenship)
Alberto Alemanno is popularizing and democratizing lobbying for citizens as a legitimate democratic practice across Europe by making advocacy skills, resources, and collaboration opportunities available to everyone.
Emmanuel Vincent. Science Feedback, France (Education)
Emmanuel Vincent is creating an internet where users have access to scientifically sound and trustworthy information by encouraging journalists and digital platforms to adjust the way they disseminate science-based information. He is empowering the international scientific community to play a leading role in tackling online misinformation to provide the public with accurate information on scientific issues, such as climate and health.
Kristina Lunz. Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy, Germany (Social Inequalities)
Kristina Lunz is promoting a feminist foreign policy across the globe by creating the first worldwide think and do tank through which academics, governments, and political actors can collectively work to change the existing foreign policy framework.
Steffi Biester. Kickfair, Germany (Education)
Steffi Biester is shifting the educational paradigm of disadvantaged young people in Germany by developing a multiyear comprehensive educational program based on the elements of street-football to develop everyone’s unique potential and belonging. She is also inspiring and guiding teachers in disadvantaged schools to learn about and adopt a much more competency-based, participative pedagogy.
Marie Madeleine Gianni. Bet She Can, Italy (Social Inequalities)
Marie Madeleine Gianni is changing old narratives about what young women and girls can achieve and knocking down the stereotypes that influence their career choices. She does this by running communication campaigns and developing innovative training and active learning experiences that engage teenagers, schools, teachers and companies.
Simona Sinesi. Never Give Up, Italy (Healthcare)
Simona Sinesi is reframing the narrative around eating disorders in Italy by developing targeted communication strategies based on evidence-based research and methodology tailored to teenagers and young adults.
Elena Calistru. Funky Citizens, Romania (Active Citizenship)
Elena Calistru is mainstreaming civic engagement in Romania by building research-based, data-driven online advocacy tools and by engaging young people in online and offline activities, while advocating for more open ways of participation.
Clara Jiménez. Maldita.es, Spain (Media and Journalism)
Clara Jiménez is building broad digital literacy truthfulness in Spain by educating the community on how to identify disinformation and transforming passive consumers of information into active contributors and factcheckers.
Ramón Roca. Güifi.net, Spain (Use of Technology)
Ramón Roca is extending internet access to the last mile in isolated communities in Spain by creating a community owned and operated network where every user co-owns and co-manages the infrastructure.
Ricardo Martino. Fundación Porque Viven, Spain (Healthcare)
Ricardo Martino is revolutionizing the approach of home-based paediatric palliative care in Spain for all children with incurable diseases by promoting an end-of-life culture for children through educational programs, by building a paediatric network, and by creating an integral public palliative care service.
Rosa Almirall. Trànsit, Spain (Healthcare)
Rosa Almirall is revolutionizing the current healthcare model for transsexual people in Catalonia by providing within a public institution a pioneer tailored and patient-centred care model for transsexual people and their families based on a trans-positive vision of gender.
Alp Toker. NetBlocks, Turkey (Use of Technology)
Alp Toker is generating new data-based advocacy for the right to information by supporting citizens and advocacy groups with tools to track and expose the negative effects of internet blockings and censorship, both in its human and economic costs.
Burak Arikan. Graph Commons, Turkey (Use of Technology)
Burak Arikan is unleashing the power of online platforms by democratizing digital knowledge and enabling civil society to create network maps through a free and user-friendly technology. Through his work, he makes it possible for everyone to see the systemic trends behind current events.
Mine Ekinci. KODA – Rural Schools Transformation Network, Turkey (Education)
Mine Ekinci is reinventing education in rural Turkey by building a community of teachers to enhance best-practices for young village teachers in rural schools.
Jennifer Lexmond. EasyPeasy, UK (Education)
Jen Lexmond is building a more socially mobile society by inspiring parents and children everywhere to learn through play. She has created a digital platform that brings together parents of all backgrounds – and those in their support network – to discover, create, play, and share learning games with their children from birth to five, helping to prepare children with the skills they need to succeed at school, and life.
Sue Riddlestone. Bioregional, UK (Environment)
Sue Riddlestone is pushing the national and global agenda on advancing more sustainable production and consumption by working at various levels of influence to transform how sustainability is understood and implemented.