Empathy in action: A Festival for inclusion and connection

Led by Ashoka South Cone and born from a meaningful exchange at the Making More Health Convention in 2023, Ashoka Fellows Raúl Lucero (Asociación Andar) and Pablo Lecuona (Tiflonexos) co-created a groundbreaking festival designed to bring together individuals with visual and mental disabilities, communities at the heart of their respective organizations.

In June 2024, the festival became a reality, uniting more than 100 participants in a vibrant space of connection, expression, and learning, with the active collaboration of 15 Boehringer Ingelheim employees. The event aimed to foster empathy, inclusion, and diversity by encouraging participants to share experiences, break down barriers, and learn from one another. By amplifying the voices of people with disabilities and promoting mutual understanding, the initiative demonstrated how cross-organizational collaboration can lead to powerful social impact, embodying the core values of the Ashoka & Boehringer Ingelheim partnership.