The Common Good

The dynamism of Italy’s third sector has not gone unnoticed to Ashoka, the global association of social innovators – men and women who conceive projects to change the world by identifying solutions to our most urgent social problems.

Ashoka, which began operating in Italy in June 2014, was founded in the United States in 1981 by social entrepreneur Bill Drayton. Today, Ashoka is present in over 70 countries and has 3200 fellows. Ashoka social entrepreneurs must satisfy a standard selection.

Ashoka has mapped over one thousand social innovators operating in Italy: 336 women and 725 men. Four Italian fellows have passed all the selection phases and have been admitted to the international network: Vincenzo Linarello (Founder, Gruppo Cooperativo GOEL), Riccarda Zezza (Founder Maam and Maam U), Alfonso Molina (Fondazione Mondo Digitale) and Dario Riccobono (Founder, Addio Pizzo and Addiopizzo Travel.

Two articles published last week have analysed the role of the “third” and “fourth” sectors for social innovation. Both mention Ashoka’s mapping of social innovators and Alfonso Molina, one of the four Italian fellows have passed all the selection phases and have been admitted to the international network. [see news: Molina is an Ashoka Fellow].

Giro d’affari da 64 miliardi per il terzo settore in Italia
Le imprese sociali verso la raccolta di capitali a rischio
by Elena Delfino
Il Sole 24 Ore – April 22, 2016
Read the article (in Italian, pdf)

Fare il bene comune? Bell’impresa
Startups centering on social commitment are on the rise. Europe likes the “fourth sector,” a step beyond the Italian tradition of enlightened entrepreneurs.
by Daniela Condorelli
D La Repubblica – April 23, 2016
Read the article (in Italian, pdf)