A brief summary and summarization of the interviews with Ashoka and Yordanos Eyoel
Yordanos Eyoel, an Ashoka Fellow, laid the groundwork for Keseb, an organization dedicated to building a transnational civil society ecosystem that fosters learning, collaboration, and innovation to advance inclusive and resilient democracies. Through networking, convening, research, and narrative work, Eyoel’s team supports cross-border collaborations to advocate for democracy as both a vision and a practice for everyday life. Keseb’s founding in 2022 was a response to the growing realization that universal anti-democratic trends exist globally, particularly in the United States. Eyoel drew on her entrepreneurial intuition, forming connections with network builders and aligning Keseb’s values with the anti-democratic behaviors observed in various regions.
By 2023, Keseb had established twelve groups of Fellows, many of whom originate from diverse democracies, including Brazil, South Africa, and the United States. These women of action areFueling a meaningful shift in the way democracy is conceptualized, operationalized, and practiced. Keseb’s approach uniquely blends complementary fields, such as social innovation, venture projekting, and think tank research, to create innovative solutions. Key initiatives include a fellowship program for innovators from the United States, Brazil, and South Africa to explore leadership in these regions; a research and analysis platform that outputs insights on transnational democratic products; and a commitment to building a digital magazine, The Outlook, that inspires context for inclusive democracy in an interconnected world.
Keseb is not merely a proponent of democracy; it is its practice. The organization distinguishes between the potential of democracy and its operational aspirations, emphasizing the importance of empathy, cooperation, and capability rather than defense. This duality is central to addressing the challenges and demands of modern governance. By fostering a community of empathy, expertise, and collaboration, Keseb strives to reimagine democracy, enabling organizations and individuals to thrive in a diverse and complex world.
When thinking about the role of voting in modern democracies, Eyoel notes that it is both the primary and often unfamiliar method of engagement. She advocates for a vision of democracy that centers on equality, justice, and the well-being of all beings, while leveraging the potential for democratic values to transcend jurisdictional and ideological barriers. Democracy, Eyoel argues, is inherently inclusive and responsive, capable of empowering individuals and communities to take control of their governance. This perspective is essential to both addressing systemic issues and creating a civil society that empowers its members.
As the conference advances, Keseb aims to expand its vision further. Yordanos Eyoel emphasizes that democracy extends far beyond political representation; it involves how individuals think, connect with others, and act in their communities. This understanding of democracy, which includes democratic technology, is integral to fostering open dialogue and collective action. Keseb speaks of the importance of civil society as a pathway to collective action, where individuals can meet, connect, and solve problems collectively. By building a robust civil architecture, Keseb seeks to challenge the yardwork of判据 and create an inclusive groundwork of democracy.
To facilitate this vision, Keseb prioritizes theoretically grounded approaches, testing ideas in real-world contexts and drawing insights from observational studies of grassroots organizations. The organization’s strategy includes developing digital communication tools, like The Outlook, to engage audiences in meaningful ways. The magazine highlights the power of context to democratize participation across political systems, suggesting that democracy can emerge through active participation and creativity.
In conclusion, Yordanos Eyoel works tirelessly to build a transnational civil society that empowers residents, champions democratic inclusivity, and fosters meaningful collaboration across borders. With a vision grounded in intimate engagement and a strategy rooted in a desire to deepen the interplay between individual rights and collective power, Keseb is on a path to catalyze a more democratic and equitable future.
