Social Entrepreneurs: Arts and Culture
Ariel Zylbersztejn had a crazy idea in mind when he screened Cinepop’s first movie a few years back: to confront society’s greatest challenges, by providing free access to family films for the urban and rural poor in Mexico. Little did Ariel realize the impact he was about to make.
Valdete Idrizi, founder and executive director of Community Building Mitrovica (CBM), was presented with the International Women of Courage Award by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, for her efforts to rebuild society in Mitrovica, Kosovo.
Shanthi Satchithanandam plants the seeds to strengthen women's rights and cultivate effective democracy in Sri Lanka. Her organisation, Viluthu, brings Muslim and Tamil women together to push for political participation and equal rights for women.
As a female clan leader of the Lango community, Margaret Akullo Elem leads the fight for women’s rights in Uganda.
A pioneer of the MJAFT! Movement in Albania, Besjan Pesha has inspired a new generation of active citizens, who are changing the Albanian political landscape towards achieving good governance.
Andrej Nosov, founder of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights, is promoting peace, justice and equality in the Balkans by connecting the post-war generations of Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Rahmatullah Oryakhel is working with traditional Afghan craftsmen to restore the former glory of the medieval heart of Kabul, after years of war have left the neighborhood of Murad Khane in a state of ruin.
After 6 years working in international organizations in Tibet, Tsering Perlo now dedicates himself to inspiring a new generation of young Tibetans to rediscover and preserve the Tibetan cultural heritage.
Setting aside an academic career to move to Tanzania, Dr Tanya Pergola founded Terrawatu to promote sustainable development, while preserving the culture and traditional wisdoms of the indigenous Maasai community.
Aferdita Syla created a safe and healthy environment for Albanian, Roma and Serb youths to take part in activities together at the Gjilan Youth Center. Founded in November 1999, the center was among the first to organize multiethnic youth activities, and to promote the well-being of youths after the war in Kosovo.