Communication, Community Development, Disability Inclusion, Diversity and Inclusion, Impact Sourcing, Marginalized Groups, Social Entrepreneurship, Systems Change, Tech for Good, Workers' Rights, Youth Leadership
2022
Canada
HepaHealth; Globe Telecom; Kabataang Pilipino Inc.; Hope Radio Philippines; Adventist Medical Center- Iligan; World Economic Forum; Activating Rural Changemakers (ARC); Virtualahan; Adventist Medical Center and Colleges; British Council; Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), National Youth Commission of the Philippines; The DO School; Philippine Red Cross Youth Iligan City Chapter; Watson Institute Philippines; The Global Good Fund; U.S. Department of State; Ashoka Philippines; ChangemakerXchange; TED Fellows Program; Forbes
Ryan Gersava, through his organization Virtualahan, focuses on providing equal opportunities for socially excluded populations in the new digital economy. He designs a social technology that integrates well-being sessions and digital job skills training tailored for individuals facing social stigma. By offering virtual training and coaching, Virtualahan empowers individuals to access high-value work from home, fostering economic independence and community support. Ryan advocates for redefining disability and promoting inclusive employment practices, aiming to shift mindsets and create opportunities for marginalized populations. Through partnerships and innovative strategies, Virtualahan is making a significant impact in empowering individuals to overcome social and economic exclusion. // Virtualahan is a tech social enterprise founded by Ryan Gersava that focuses on equipping people with disabilities and other disadvantaged groups with the skills and mindset to become successful employees and entrepreneurs. Through a combination of life-coaching, community building, and digital skills training, Virtualahan aims to break down employment barriers and create a future of work where no one is left behind. The organization has over 400 graduates from various cities and provinces in the Philippines and has received recognition for its impactful work, including being awarded as one of the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations and winning the Google Business Stories Award. Additionally, Virtualahan has been commended for its inclusive employment practices and was honored as a Global Champion at the World Summit Awards, becoming the first Filipino company to receive this recognition. // Social entrepreneur, educator, and diversity and inclusion champion.
Ryan is the Founder and Chairman of Virtualahan, an online vocational school providing inclusive training to people with disabilities, recovering addicts, and others who struggle to find employment, while simultaneously empowering companies to become inclusive employers. He is also an Ashoka Fellow, an honoree for Forbes 30 under 30 Asia for Social Impact and a 2022 TED Fellow.
Specialties: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility, Social Entrepreneurship, Design Thinking, Systems Change, Innovative Education, Impact Sourcing // A lifetime fellow at Ashoka, the oldest and largest network of social entrepreneurs in the world. It was founded in 1980 by Bill Drayton based on the idea that the most powerful force for good in the world is a social entrepreneur: a person driven by an innovative idea that can help correct an entrenched global problem. The world’s leading social entrepreneurs pursue system-changing solutions that permanently alter existing patterns of activity. // A global and well-being facilitator in-charge of holding the space and orchestrating the magic of every ChangemakerXchange summit. I am also a social media community manager that brings together the alumni of the program and engaging them in the community's Facebook group.----The ChangemakerXchange is a global collaborative community and series of retreats for young social innovators, co-created by Ashoka and the Robert Bosch Stiftung. It provides social innovators from around the world with the chance to come together in person, learn from each other, refine existing ideas and start collaborations. The community has now become >250 people following summits around the world. Together these Changemakers have developed over 50 cross-border collaborations reaching many thousands of people. // Active Citizens is a social leadership training programme that promotes intercultural dialogue and community-led social development.Through the programme, we bring together people with different beliefs and perspectives to learn from and share with each other. Working with our partners around the globe, we train participants in the skills and knowledge needed to affect social change in their communities.Active Citizens connects thousands of like-minded people around the world who collectively want to make a fairer and more inclusive society. https://www.britishcouncil.org/active-citizens // One of the chosen 12 Fellows (out of 2,400+ candidates) of The Global Good Fund’s 2017 Leadership Development Fellowship Program for Social Entrepreneurs. I'm the only one representing South-east Asia for this cohort and also the youngest.The Global Good Fund is a leadership development enterprise built by and for social entrepreneurs. We identify high-potential leaders and accelerate their success through proven and proprietary development methods. We believe growing leaders is the best strategy for solving complex social problems and achieving global good.http://www.globalgoodfund.org/ // Watson Institute - Philippines is an 8-week long incubator in Manila, Philippines for student innovators, leaders, and entrepreneurs. It includes mentorship and short courses from some of the world's foremost practitioners including the country director of Ashoka Philippines and world-renowned entrepreneurs; award winning training inspired by the Transformative Action Institute in the skills of empathy, creativity, resilience, fundraising, team-building, human-centered design, and social aikido; and the Watson Lab in which scholars receive personalized coaching and connections to world-class mentors, partners and funders to pilot, prototype, and scale their ideas to shape the future. // Hope Channel Philippines is a religious network of the Seventh-day Adventist Church & Gateway UHF Broadcasting in the Philippines. Founded and launched on September 26, 2011 in Southern Mindanao (its main service broadcast provider), and on January 2012 in Luzon and Visayas. It was first seen on UHF Channel 25 in Davao in Mindanao Region.It had also its first radio station named Hope Radio Philippines which will be heard on 101.9 Hope radio Iligan, DXCR on MVC and DXHR-AM in Butuan City. In Luzon, this station is broadcast from 7pm-7am while its sharing network station form U.S. 3ABN International which aired from 7am-7pm on UHF Channel 45, Manila. The network programming is similar to Hope Channel International programming but in Filipino language. // The Red Cross Youth (RCY) is the youth volunteering program of the Philippine Red Cross. Its mission is to educate and empower children and youth in the spirit of the Red Cross through constructive trainings and effective leadership and provide opportunities for directing and harnessing their energies and idealism into worthwhile humanitarian activities.The Philippine Red Cross Youth seeks to:Inculcate humanitarian valuesInstill the practice of healthy lifestyleEnhance youth leadership through serviceAdvocate National/International friendshipLink: https://www.facebook.com/Iligan.RCY?fref=ts // The JENESYS Programme is organized by The Government of Japan through the Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC) of the Embassy of Japan as well as the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE), in close cooperation with the National Youth Commission (NYC) of the Republic of the Philippines. By fostering strong networks among the youths of Japan and the Philippines, the JENESYS Programme endeavors to promote cultural appreciation and mutual understanding between our two countries. The Philippine-Tohoku Goodwill Ambassadors are expected to gain a deeper understanding of Japanese culture, as well as visit Kesennuma City in Tohoku region and learn from Japan's recovery efforts, disaster risk management and the concept of a “greener environment”. The said programme was agreed upon in a joint statement by both the Government of Japan and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines on September 27, 2011, with Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda stating that Japan will invite 400 Filipino college students to Japan this year as “Philippine-Tohoku Goodwill Ambassadors.” // Virtualahan is a social enterprise that eliminates employment barriers for People with Disabilities, former sex workers and drug addicts, persons in jail, indigenous people, and other disadvantaged communities who are socially excluded in the workplace. We do this through online training, remote work, life-coaching, and community building using cost-effective and transferrable social technology. // Part of the 2022 cohort of TED Fellows, whose work spans five continents and represents 14 countries
Learn more here-- https://blog.ted.com/meet-the-2022-class-of-ted-fellows/ // Virtualahan is a social enterprise that eliminates employment barriers for People with Disabilities, former sex workers and drug addicts, persons in jail, indigenous people, and other disadvantaged communities who are socially excluded in the workplace. We do this through online training, remote work, life-coaching, and community building using cost-effective and transferrable social technology. // Ryan Gersava founded Virtualahan to break down employment barriers for stigmatized people, including those with disabilities and recovering drug addicts, by providing digital-focused job-skills training for roles that can be done remotely. // HepaHealth works on eradicating viral Hepatitis in The Philippines by connecting communities to care. www.hepahealth.org // An active Global Shaper from Davao Hub of the Global Shapers Community of the World Economic Forum. The Global Shapers Community is a network of young people driving dialogue, action and change. We believe in a world where young people are central to solution building, policy-making and lasting change. // Developed a framework that ignites the change making potential of indigenes Filipino youth using design thinking and systems change principles. // I'm working with MAINSTAY and SAILS at Seattle Central College focusing on developing new strategies, integration of technology in their programs, and harvesting 30 years of knowledge and experience in supporting Persons with Disabilities become successful in their careers. // Winner of the 2017 Asia-Pacific Future Makers Program, a social innovation program of the Singtel Group of Companies for Asia Pacific. It aims to influence and build an ecosystem of social innovators who can help create a positive impact on society with the help of technology. // The DO School offers excellent educational programs that empower talented leaders to learn how to turn ideas into action. All participants learn how to create social innovation hands- on, learn from passionate peers, engage with current experts and create impact for leading organizations. The DO School offers different high impact programs, online courses as well as innovation workshops for leading companies.Learn more: http://www.thedoschool.org // I worked as a Medical Laboratory Science Intern performing different laboratory tests, patient care, and quality control. I was specially trained in Histopathology, Blood Banking and laboratory machine operations. // KPI's flagship program aims to provide an opportunity to financially challenged Filipino youth to finish their primary and/or secondary education through financial assistance, sponsor networking, or scholarship information and assistance.KPI envisions itself to be a catalyst of Philippine development through education and become a model organization for other individuals or organizations in conveying the message that the Filipino youth is worth helping. // HepaHealth; Globe Telecom; Kabataang Pilipino Inc.; Hope Radio Philippines; Adventist Medical Center- Iligan; World Economic Forum; Activating Rural Changemakers (ARC); Virtualahan; Adventist Medical Center and Colleges; British Council; Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), National Youth Commission of the Philippines; The DO School; Philippine Red Cross Youth Iligan City Chapter; Watson Institute Philippines; The Global Good Fund; U.S. Department of State; Ashoka Philippines; ChangemakerXchange; TED Fellows Program; Forbes // Ryan Gersava is a social entrepreneur, educator, and diversity and inclusion champion known for founding Virtualahan, an online vocational school that provides inclusive training to marginalized communities, including people with disabilities and recovering addicts. His expertise lies in areas such as Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, Social Entrepreneurship, Design Thinking, Systems Change, and Innovative Education. Ryan's impactful work has been recognized through accolades like being an Ashoka Fellow, a Forbes 30 under 30 Asia honoree for Social Impact, and a 2022 TED Fellow. With a strong commitment to empowering individuals facing barriers to employment, Ryan's initiatives focus on leveraging technology and community building to create opportunities for those often excluded from the workforce. // My mission is to break down the barriers that prevent Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) from accessing quality education and meaningful employment. By driving the adoption of inclusive practices across all sectors, ensuring equitable resource allocation, and enforcing strong legal protections, I aim to create a world where PWDs can thrive. My goal is to significantly reduce the global unemployment rate for PWDs and increase school attendance for children with disabilities. Through systems change and leveraging accurate data for informed policy-making, I envision a future where the PWD community is equipped to reach their full potential and contribute actively to a more diverse, equitable, accessible, and inclusive society. The core of my work is to enable PWDs to become leaders in our society and to build the future of work where no one is left behind // Ryan Gersava is a social entrepreneur and advocate for diversity and inclusion, best known for founding Virtualahan, a tech social enterprise that provides inclusive training to marginalized communities, including people with disabilities and recovering addicts. Through Virtualahan, Ryan focuses on equipping individuals with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in the digital economy, offering virtual training, coaching, and community support to empower economic independence. His expertise spans areas such as Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, Social Entrepreneurship, Design Thinking, and Systems Change. Recognized for his impactful work, Ryan has received accolades such as being an Ashoka Fellow, a Forbes 30 under 30 Asia honoree for Social Impact, and a 2022 TED Fellow. Through innovative strategies and a commitment to creating opportunities for marginalized populations, Ryan is dedicated to reshaping mindsets and promoting inclusive employment practices to empower individuals facing social and economic exclusion. // Social innovator + educator // Social entrepreneur, educator, and diversity and inclusion champion. He is the Founder and President of Virtualahan, an impact driven company that breaks down employment barriers for Persons with Disabilities and other excluded communities using the equalizing power of technology. He is also an Ashoka Fellow and a Forbes 30 under 30 honoree. // One billion people worldwide are living with a disability, and too many of them are left unemployed or feeling like they need to hide their conditions due to discriminatory hiring practices, says social innovator and TED Fellow Ryan Gersava. With a focus on healing and disclosure, he created an online school to provide people like him with the technical skills and employment aid they need to thrive. Now he's calling for every company to initiate efforts to welcome and support those with disabilities, creating a future of work that leaves no one behind. // Ryan Gersava is a social entrepreneur and advocate for diversity and inclusion, best known for founding Virtualahan, a tech social enterprise that provides inclusive training to marginalized communities, including people with disabilities and recovering addicts. Through Virtualahan, Ryan focuses on equipping individuals with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in the digital economy, offering virtual training, coaching, and community support to empower economic independence. His expertise spans areas such as Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, Social Entrepreneurship, Design Thinking, and Systems Change. Recognized for his impactful work, Ryan has received accolades such as being an Ashoka Fellow, a Forbes 30 under 30 Asia honoree for Social Impact, and a 2022 TED Fellow. Through innovative strategies and a commitment to creating opportunities for marginalized populations, Ryan is dedicated to reshaping mindsets and promoting inclusive employment practices to empower individuals facing social and economic exclusion. // Social innovator + educator // technology, tech for good, disability inclusion, entrepreneurship, education, diversity, risk management, cities, youth leadership, data, jobs, equity, job skills training, urban, finance, social entrepreneurship, research, inclusion, resilience, disability, design, volunteerism, digital economy, humanitarian, disclosures, outsourcing, marginalized, accessibility, systems change, youth, diversity and inclusion, community development, community organizing, consulting, workers, indigenous people, social impact, children, impact sourcing, science, experience design, disaster risk management, urban poor, economic independence, indigenous, law, tech visionary, communication, government // Davao Region|Philippines|Davao City
Davao Region|Philippines|Davao City
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