Pride in action: Dela participating social entrepreneurs celebrate diversity toward a more inclusive world for all

As Pride Month 2025 unfolds, we acknowledge the work of social entrepreneurs who are ensuring that no one is left behind, regardless of their sexual orientation, age, identities, or background. Two of these leading social innovators are Ashoka Fellows Federico Armenteros from Spain and Francisco Quiñones Cuartas from Argentina. 

Both Francisco and Federico are participants of the current edition of the Dela programme, co-created by Ashoka and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, where they are further refining their systems change strategies to continue their work towards a more inclusive, dignifying, and fair world for all.
 

Restoring dignity through the power of community 

Francisco Quiñones is the co-founder of Mocha Celis, an organization that aims to change the mindset of companies, government officials, and citizens for the transformation of society as a whole, influencing the approach to addressing challenges experienced by Travesti, Trans, and Non-Binary (TTNB) people in an effective and holistic manner. 

The Mocha Celis Travesti, Trans, and Non-Binary (TTNB) High School is the world's first trans school, and it has inspired similar programs in more than 15 Argentina's provinces, as well as in Latin American and Caribbean countries such as Brazil, Costa Rica, Paraguay, and Chile. With over a hundred students each year aged 16 to 60, the school also welcomes LGBTQIA+2S, Afro-descendant, and migrant individuals. In addition to offering high school completion, the Civil Association provides vocational workshops to promote employment and personal development.  

Since 2014, more than 10 cohorts have graduated with a degree as experts in community development, enabling them to pursue higher education nationwide. Many of the graduates have also secured positions in the public and private sectors. The school empowers students to become knowledge producers and has published books, produced documentaries, and organized various cultural events.  

Through Francisco’s participation in Dela, Mocha Celis is incorporating new tools to increase their impact and scalability. In Francisco's words, 

For Mocha Celis, Dela represents a profound process that enables us to plan our scalability and take a confident step toward the systemic change we envision. This is approached from a new perspective while simultaneously reinforcing the strength of our own foundations. Moreover, it has been a valuable opportunity to learn how other Ashoka Fellows are navigating this journey, and to connect with our collective potential from a diverse and integrated standpoint.
 

Now, as they go through the Scoping and Experimentation phase, they have been working on new research about experiences and success stories related to trans employment in Argentina. The goal is to generate key insights and compelling evidence to strengthen Mocha Celis' employability program and amplify its systemic impact within the corporate sector. 

In addition to providing data and statistics for informed analysis, the final document will offer a practical toolkit of best practices: a prototype for trainings and awareness sessions on “Diversity and Inclusion” aimed at activating changemaking teams and Human Resources departments, frameworks for CV collection and digitalization initiatives, models for corporate volunteering programs, and potential pathways for scholarships and internships for TTNB individuals driven by private sector allies, among other resources.
 

Aging with Pride: empowering LGBTQIA+2S seniors 

Meanwhile, in Spain, Federico has been working for a paradigm shift in the aging process of the LGBTQIA+2S population as they face unique challenges due to the intersection of age and their identities. 

Through Fundación 26 de Diciembre, they have been focusing on comprehensive care for LGBTQIA+2S seniors in the areas of housing, psychological care, personal help, biopsychosocial intervention, and socialization throughout the Spanish territory and internationally as well. 

Up until now, the organization has offered personalized biopsychosocial care to more than 5,000 LGBTQIA+2S seniors. In addition, their programs and projects have facilitated access to social and health services, ensuring that thousands of seniors receive the care they need.  

One of the initiatives they have been working on focuses on driving systemic change in the way elderly members of the LGBTQIA+2S community are cared for in residential settings. Through the development of a Diversity Certification program, residential facilities will be able to enhance their internal procedures and create environments perceived as safe and inclusive. The goal is to increase the participation of LGBTQIA+2S seniors in these services. Currently, only 4% of them access such resources.

By joining Dela, Federico and the team have connected with other Ashoka Fellows like Francisco, as well as IKEA experts, to improve the management and impact of their actions, and consolidate this systemic change. In Federico’s words:

I feel grateful to the Ashoka Fellowship program for guiding us through the systemic change process within Fundación 26 de Diciembre. We're looking forward to continuing to work with IKEA experts toward the promotion of LGBTQIA+2S seniors' rights.

Now, as they enter the final stages of the accelerator program, Federico is leading a pilot project aimed at bringing an LGBTQIA+2S certification to life. The initiative seeks to develop an LGBTQIA+2S certification seal for companies and organizations: a meaningful tool to drive deeper, long-term cultural change. It centers on training and guiding institutions in adopting care models that emphasize person-centered attention and inclusivity. Fundación 26 de Diciembre, with its extensive experience in this field, is well-positioned to lead the development of this framework. 
 

The Dela programme is currently in its fifth year and has counted five editions and 560+ participants. Since the first accelerator, 65% of the participating social entrepreneurs have changed their strategies to grow their impact beyond their organizations, and all of them felt more confident in pursuing systems change. Learn more about the programme and meet the current cohort here.