Ashoka Switzerland

🚀 It’s happening! The Changemaker Days 2025 are kicking off soon! 🎉 Ashoka Switzerland will proudly be represented in Milan, October 22–23, 2025, together with Ashoka Fellows and leaders from Switzerland and Italy 🌍 This special edition celebrates the 10th anniversary of Ashoka Italia. Two days to honour 10 years of changemaking, social innovation, and transformative ideas shaping a more sustainable and inclusive future 💡 We can’t wait to connect, share, and collaborate with changemakers from across Europe to keep driving meaningful change. 🔗 More info: https://lnkd.in/dSSns7Kq #CMDays2025 #AshokaSwitzerland #AshokaItaly #AshokaSupportNetwork #Changemakers #SocialImpact #InnovazioneSociale #HoganLovells

❔ What does a world without violence look like? Last night in #Zurich, Giving Women and Ashoka Switzerland came together for a powerful evening of connection, reflection, and changemaking. We were honored to welcome Ashoka #Fellow Daniela Maudeth Valdivia Gutiérrez, founder of Huellas & Futuro, whose work in Bolivia is transforming the fight against gender-based violence by redefining masculinity and engaging men as allies. Her approach is bold and systemic: working with schools, families, the military, and police to shift cultural norms and prevent violence before it begins. Her deeply personal story and courageous leadership moved us all. Thank you Daniela Maudeth Valdivia Gutiérrez! Thank you, Charlie Page, not only for your excellent moderation, but also for generously sharing your personal view as a therapist and mentor for Giving Women. Your deep commitment to empowering women through healing, listening, and guidance added a profound layer to our conversation. Perrine de le Court, also had the chance to share other inspiring solutions from #Ashoka #Fellows around the world: 🌾 Nani Zulminarni (Indonesia) – Founder of PEKKA, empowering over 70,000 women-headed households through grassroots organizing, leadership training, and economic independence. Her work challenges stigmas and builds collective power. 🔥 Marjan Gryson (Belgium) – Founder of Touché, transforming aggression into positive energy. Her programs in prisons and beyond help individuals rechannel anger into constructive action, reducing recidivism and promoting reintegration. 📞 Mariana Baños (Mexico) – Founder of Fundación Origen, offering free psychological and legal support to women across Mexico via a national call center. Her model has reached over 800,000 women and is changing community dynamics from the inside out partnering with +5000 institutions. These #Fellows show us that everyone can be a changemaker. When we empower people to act, we help them see that they are part of the solution. A heartfelt thank you to our co-organisers: Noemi Nagy, Alina Bulugioiu and Nadir Franca: your help made this evening possible. And to the incredible women in the audience; your stories, shared during the networking moment after the panel, added depth and hope to the evening. Let’s keep building networks of trust, empowerment, and transformation. #EveryoneAChangemaker #Ashoka #GivingWomen #GenderEquality #SocialInnovation #Changemakers #ZurichEvent #Empowerment #Leadership #GlobalSouthVoices

⚖What does justice look like when the world forgets? In a quiet courtroom in Paris, Liberian survivors stood face-to-face with the man accused of murdering their loved ones, enslaving civilians, and overseeing acts of unspeakable cruelty. They testified; some for the second time; with courage that defies description. And they won. Kunti Kamara was convicted of crimes against humanity. Not in Liberia, where the crimes happened. But in France ; because justice at home was impossible. This is just one of the stories in Civitas Maxima’s 2024 Annual Report. It’s not just a document; it’s a chronicle of what happens when victims refuse silence, when lawyers and investigators chase truth across continents, and when justice is pursued without state funding, without fanfare, and often against powerful resistance. Founded by Ashoka #Fellow Alain Werner, Civitas Maxima is a rare force in international justice; independent, relentless, and deeply rooted in the dignity of survivors. From the first-ever arrest in Spain for blood diamond trafficking during the Sierra Leone war, to the long-overdue momentum for a War Crimes Court in Liberia, to the defamation campaigns trying to silence those who dare to speak; this report is a testament to perseverance. It’s also a reminder: justice doesn’t always come from the places we expect. Sometimes, it’s built by survivors, journalists, lawyers, and civil society ; brick by brick, testimony by testimony. 📘 Read the full report: https://civitas-maxima.org 💡 And if you believe in justice beyond borders, share it.

🎉 Celebrating 30 Years of Fondation As'trame – A Changemaking Journey in Switzerland Over the past 30 years, As’trame has supported more than 12,000 families across French-speaking Switzerland, offering a safe space for listening, care, and healing. More than 10,750 children and adolescents have been empowered to express their emotions, find stability, and build resilience through As’trame’s unique approach. This anniversary honors the voices of the families supported — their strength, their learnings, and their transformation. Ashoka Switzerland was deeply moved to join this celebration and witness the profound impact of As’trame’s work. In 2007, Ashoka elected Marie-Dominique Genoud as the FIRST #Fellow for her pioneering, non-medicalized, playful, and collaborative approach to family support , one that places children and parents at the center and gives them the power to act. Her work embodies the belief that everyone can be a changemaker. Instead of relying on medication to address deep emotional wounds, As’trame built a path based on trust, dialogue, and empowerment. The testimonies shared by families were a powerful reminder of the transformative and lasting impact of this work. We also celebrate the continued leadership of Anne de Montmollin, who has directed As’trame for 25 years. Her commitment to systemic change, strengthened through her journey with Ashoka, has brought together diverse actors around a shared vision for impact. It’s impressive to see how, surrounded and supported by key allies, she continues to drive change including: Mr. @Vassilis Venizellos State Councillor and Head of the Department of Youth, Environment and Security (DES) Mr. @Michel Wosinski, Member of the Foundation Board Mr. @Raphaël Trémaud, Head of Prevention in the field of care at Promotion Santé Suisse 💛 Happy anniversary to As’trame — a beacon of hope, healing, and changemaking for families across Switzerland. #Ashoka #AshokaFellow #Changemaker #SystemChange #MentalHealth #FamilySupport #AsTrame #AshokaSwitzerland #EveryoneAChangemaker

Ashoka Switzerland is very proud to welcome Thomas de Groote, founder of River Cleanup, as new 2025 Ashoka Belgium #Fellow in Ashoka's ecosystem! Thomas and his team are revolutionizing how communities worldwide tackle plastic pollution in waterways. Their comprehensive, science-based approach enables upstream communities to coordinate impactful action in education, waste collection, data monitoring, and advocacy. Since 2019, the organization has mobilized over 325,000 volunteers across 100+ countries in the mission to make rivers plastic-free. 🌊 Learn more about their social impact: https://lnkd.in/dXt5jwR 🌍 Ready for action? Join World Cleanup Day on September 20th: https://lnkd.in/dbYwFmin

Celebrating 20 Years of Blindspot - Inclusion and Diversity Switzerland – Congratulations to Ashoka #Fellow Jonas Staub and Kristina Grbešić ! Ashoka Switzerland warmly celebrates the 20th anniversary of Blindspot, the pioneering organization creating inclusive spaces and opportunities for people with and without disabilities to thrive together; through culture, sports, education, and beyond. We invite you to explore their inspiring journey and the many impactful initiatives they’ve led over the years: 📖 Read about Blindspot’s 20-year celebration by their partner: https://lnkd.in/djkXHJYG 🌐 Visit Blindspot’s website: Here’s to many more years of inclusion, innovation, and changemaking! 💫 #AshokaFellow #SocialInnovation #Inclusion #Blindspot #Changemaker #AshokaSwitzerland

Share Your Secret – Be Part of Ashoka #Fellow Dan Acher’s SECRETS Installation By anonymously sharing one of your secrets, you’ll contribute to an installation that explores vulnerability, healing, and transformation. Your secret will be handwritten and included in the artwork, then released and symbolically burned on September 6 🔥 Can’t be in Geneva for the SECRETS installation? You can still take part in this powerful collective experience created by Ashoka Fellow Dan Acher. 👉 Share your secret here: https://lnkd.in/eXDHrENv 📖 Learn more about SECRETS: https://lnkd.in/eD6vhrHr Ashoka Switzerland is proud to support Dan’s work, which uses public art to spark deep emotional connection and social change.

Call for Applications: The Good Start Challenge Are you working to improve the wellbeing of parents and caregivers of young children in underserved communities? The Good Start Challenge is a global call for solutions that strengthen support systems for families and caregivers — particularly in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, where nurturing care has the greatest impact. Whether you’re a social entrepreneur, innovator, or grassroots leader, this is a unique opportunity to accelerate your impact. Selected innovators will receive: A €50,000 grant Access to global experts, funders, policymakers, and peer networks Tailored support to strengthen and scale your solution The opportunity to compete for a €200,000 final award Solutions can focus on health, mental wellbeing, economic empowerment, responsive caregiving, or community-based support, particularly for caregivers facing systemic disadvantages. 🗓 Deadline to apply: 10 September 2025 🔗 Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/gZDF7xSv Let’s invest in caregivers—because every child deserves a good start. #GoodStartChallenge #EarlyChildhoodDevelopment #CaregiverSupport Image credits to the Good Start

🌟 Applications now open: Mindfulness-Based Sustainable Transformation Teacher Training How can we foster the inner transformation needed to drive systemic and sustainable change? The Inner Green Deal is launching a new, one-year training programme designed to equip changemakers, facilitators, and sustainability leaders with the tools, practices, and inner capacities — such as presence, resilience, and compassion — needed to navigate complexity and lead meaningful climate action. This mindfulness-based programme supports participants in translating climate awareness into pro-environmental behaviour and systems-level impact. 📆 Start date: September 19, 2025 🗓 Application deadline: August 31, 2025 🔗 Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/ghVT4b49 A unique opportunity to lead with clarity, care, and purpose in the face of the climate crisis. #InnerGreenDeal #SustainabilityLeadership #Mindfulness #ClimateAction #SystemsChange Image credits to Inner Green Deal

🌍 Join us at Making More Health Together 2025! On November 5–6, changemakers from around the world will come together — in Ingelheim, Germany and online — for a global convention focused on building healthier, more inclusive communities. Organized by Making More Health, a long-term initiative by Ashoka and Boehringer Ingelheim, the event unites innovators, entrepreneurs, health professionals, and cross-sector partners committed to systemic health solutions. 💡 Whether you're attending in person or virtually, you'll gain insights, inspiration, and connections that spark real-world impact. 📌 Learn more and register here: https://lnkd.in/gZ8z8SZH Let’s create healthier futures—together. #MakingMoreHealth #Ashoka #HealthEquity #SocialInnovation #MMHTogether2025 #GlobalHealth #SystemsChange