Uganda People News: Three Ugandans elected as Ashoka Fellows 2006

Ultimate Media

Four people, three Ugandans and a Tanzanian have been elected to join the prestigious international fellowship of Ashoka Fellows.

Ashoka is a non-profit organization that searches the world for social entrepreneurs - extraordinary individuals with unprecedented ideas for change in their communities.

Maria Baryamujura of Community Based Tourism Initiatives (COBATI) Uganda; Cathy Watson, of Straight Talk Foundation (STF) Uganda; Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusooka of Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH) Uganda and Bart Weetjens of Apopo Tanzania have been elected as Ashoka Fellows 2006.

Ashoka East Africas Communications Development Officer, Abubaker Musuuza says this brings the number of Ashoka Fellows in East Africa to 26.

Ashoka Fellows are joined together in a global network of Leading Social Entrepreneurs.

The network now spans 60 countries on all continents with over 1800 Ashoka Fellows.

According to Ashoka, social entrepreneurs are practical visionaries who possess qualities traditionally associated with leading business entrepreneurs-vision, innovation, determination and long-term commitment but are dedicated to achieving systematic social change in their field.

Through her organization of Community Based Tourism Initiatives (COBATI), Maria Baryamujura is developing community-based tourism that allows people to use their culture and livelihoods to benefit from tourism.

Cathy Watson is revolutionizing behavior change communication and HIV/AIDS education in Uganda through Straight Talks numerous newspaper publications; radio shows and media outreach efforts.

Gladys Kalema Zikusooka is linking Ugandas wildlife management and rural public health programs to create common resources that benefit both people and animals.

Bart Weetjens has developed a quicker, cheaper method that can be applied on a large scale for early detection of landmines to stop preventable deaths from landmines.

Founded in 1980, Ashoka pioneers the social venture approach in international development.