A grant of $1.1 million from the Goldman Sachs Foundation will kick-start Ashoka's UK social entrepreneur programme and build on its existing work in France and Germany. The donation will be used to launch the association's inaugural programme in the UK, aimed at supporting social entrepreneurs operating in the fields of education and youth development. Social entrepreneurs working to achieve systemic social change in their field will receive funding, support services and access to Ashoka's global network of alumni and resources.
Ashoka has been present in Europe since 1995, where it began operating in Central and Eastern Europe, before launching initiatives in Western Europe in 2005, where it now has Ashoka fellows in France, Germany, Spain, Ireland, the UK. The award by the Goldman Sachs Foundation, which made grants totalling over $10 million in 2005, demonstrates the foundation's commitment to promoting the development of excellence amongst young people worldwide.
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