By Dave Barrett
“Social entrepreneurs are the essential corrective force. They are system-changing entrepreneurs. And from deep within they, and therefore their work, are committed to the good of all.”
—Bill Drayton, Ashoka Founder
Background: What is Ashoka?
Ashoka is an international organization that pioneered the field of social entrepreneurship more than 40 years ago. Since then, Ashoka has promoted social entrepreneurship by affiliating individual social entrepreneurs into the Ashoka organization.
Ashoka identifies leading social entrepreneurs with solutions to social problems who seek to make large-scale changes to society. Ashoka searches for individuals who have vision, creativity, and determination and are motivated by improving the public good rather than personal gain.
Why was Caminos de Agua Selected?
In late 2020, Caminos de Agua’s Executive Director, Dylan Terrell, received notification that he was nominated for an Ashoka Fellowship for the work of Caminos de Agua. A rigorous eight-month process followed, which included an intensive application process, both virtual and physical site visits, hours of in-depth interviews with Latin American and later Ashoka Global leadership, and a final deep-dive review and interview by a panel of experts. Terrell and Caminos de Agua were evaluated on five core criteria:
- The “new idea” (innovation)
- Systemic change
- Entrepreneurial trajectory
- Creativity
- Ethical fiber
The standards for becoming a Fellow are extremely high, and there are no corners cut in the vetting process. Happily, in late July of this year, Terrell, and by association the entire Caminos de Agua team, was honored by being approved as a provisional member into the Ashoka Fellowship Network of Social Entrepreneurs. The “provisional” part is only due to COVID preventing a required final in-person review process.
What does an Ashoka Fellowship mean for Caminos de Agua?
To create the pressure needed for truly systemic change, social entrepreneurs and their organizations need access to new global connections and networks that can help them in their mission and to scale their impact. Many need more visibility to spread their ideas and solutions or to change people’s mindsets. Others need strategic, business, or other professional services to strengthen their organizations and models of implementation and growth.
Ashoka provides access to these resources and more through their Global Network. They provide free and subsidized workshops, in-depth trainings, and capacity-building opportunities for their Fellows as well as members of their organizations. Ashoka provides on-going advice and accompaniment, especially in the first three years of the Fellowship, when Fellows also receive a financial stipend that allows them to devote their time fully to their cause.
Next Steps
Terrell and Caminos’ Ashoka Fellowship is a huge honor and represents important high-level international recognition for their work. With access to this distinguished global network, Caminos is poised to have an even greater positive impact on our water crisis.
More info: caminosdeagua.org/en/la-gota
