Global Diaspora Initiative of Ashoka, Global Diaspora Initiative Global Diaspora Initiative of Ashoka Vision and Mission Vision: To advance an Everyone a Changemaker world, where anyone can apply the skills of changemaking to solve complex social problems. Mission: To support social entrepreneurs who are leading and collaborating with changemakers, in a team of teams model that addresses the fluidity of a rapidly evolving society. Ashoka believes that anyone can learn and apply the critical skills of empathy, team work, leadership and changemaking to be successful in the modern world. The Global Diaspora Initiative of Ashoka aims to create large-scale social change by enabling high caliber investors, entrepreneurs and influencers from diaspora communities to engage with Ashoka in different parts of the world. We believe that the impact of having these diaspora leaders working close to Ashoka and its community will: 1) help people from different diaspora groups to understand and value the role they can play in promoting positive change in their countries of origin; 2) enhance Ashoka’s capacity to deliver large-scale solutions to social challenges. Why Diaspora? Our experience has shown us that some of the most change-making citizens of a region are those that form a part of its diaspora, including emigrants or their descendants that feel a connection to the country of their heritage. Building a new life in a completely different world triggers powerful entrepreneurial energies and, at the same time, changes one’s world-view. It is then but natural that these entrepreneurial new-thinking people with strong affinity for their own countries could become change-agents for these nations. This has indeed happened and today there is universal recognition of the potential of the same. Ashoka sees such entrepreneurs and influencers as critical to large-scale change and seeks to co-create with them the right solutions for the big problems facing their regions. Our Approach Innovative and entrepreneurial individuals in diasporas have advanced knowledge in their profession and sector, an intimate understanding of their countries of origin, and a desire to leverage their skill, perspective and resources to support and encourage sustainable positive change. To engage these individuals within the Ashoka community, the Global Diaspora Initiative will: Engage leaders and influencers from different diaspora groups with ideas that bring about change in their home countries. Create a channel for members of diaspora communities to invest in initiatives that promote and build large-scale social impact in their countries and regions of origin. Partner with media outlets and storytellers to reach people from different diaspora groups who want to have access to and engage with solutions that are changing their local communities and countries of origin. Support social entrepreneurs and ideas around the world that focus on creating ecosystems to empower migrant and immigrant communities to realize their full potential. Learn more about how we will support an ecosystem of innovative ideas in four key areas to integrate and empower mobile communities. View the full list of Ashoka Fellows impacting mobile populations, and read more about Ashoka Fellows whose work impacts migrant communities (including refugees or displaced populations) and immigrant communities.