Ashoka Ireland Fellows
Through the Ability Awards and her growing network of over 100 Ability Businesses, Kanchi has changed the perception of disability. Having reached 20% of the Irish working population within three years, Caroline is now launching franchises in Spain - with other countries soon to follow.
Using grassroots best practices to redefine the field of disability through a cohesive strategy uniting a fragmented sector and implementation funds to move from wasteful, ineffective programmes to national best practice adoption.
Steve has revolutionized community-based therapeutic care of Severe Acute Malnutrition through ready-to-use food and more effective distribution. His organizations Valid International and Valid Nutrition have spread the system internationally and reach 1 million children.
Tara has renamed her organization SpeechBud and is planning a large-scale expansion into the United States.
In building the capacity of young people and parents alike and pushing for changes in school programs, David has successfully introduced healthy food suppliers, fruit micro-businesses, and alternative sports providers to schools across Ireland. Currently, he is operating and expanding profitable “RedBranch Healthy School Cafes” which are effecting the lifestyle habits of young people.
Mike Feerick is improving access to opportunity through ALISON, a new approach to skills training that offers increased employment competitiveness for users around the world, for free. The program, akin to an accessible online community college, is designed around a system of alternative certification and immediate competence testing. Mike is expanding offerings to mobile platforms, secondary school curriculum, and beyond.
Michael Kelly is catalyzing a nationwide movement to substantially increase the number of people growing their own food. Through Michael’s viral organization, Grow It Yourself, he is creating simple structures to tap into and cross-pollinate existing knowledge, excite new participants, and spread food growing on a massive scale.
Mary is tapping into an underutilized demographic bounty by creating active contributors among the aging. She is combating loneliness and isolation by bridging gaps between generations and disparate populations, and engaging older people in programs to help other people in need. Her approach is three-pronged: activities at the local level; national support services by phone, and links to the broader world through matching programs with new immigrants.
