Social entrepreneur´s profile:

Bringing Distance Learning and Health Services Closer 

Her solution at a glance: What do distance learning and health services have in common? They are both essential in these times of crisis.

Distance teaching: As many teachers are confronted with this new and challenging situation, Ashoka Fellow Carmen Pellicer is supporting them with training courses and materials to continue education for the younger generation.

Health services: In this field, her organisation, Trilema Foundation, is developing an app in Spain and Portugal for prevention and home care of patients with mild symptoms. It aims to reach out to 17,000 elderly people.

Social Entrepreneur: Carmen Pellicer

Organization: Fundación Trilema

Field: Providing direct health care and producing health care equipment

Needs for social innovation to have more impact: Marketing and communicationsBusiness development and fundraising. 

Before and after Corona: From leading change in education to distance learning support of patients with mild symptoms through an App.

The mission of the social enterprise before Corona:

The mission of Trilema Foundation is to empower people to reach personal fulfilment and an authentic belief and commitment to be changemakers in the world of todaythrough the power of learning! 

Carmen Pellicer is aiming to change the education system in Spain by identifying and empowering leading teachers who can ensure a transformation of their schools for the better. Trilema Foundation sees learning at the heart of all fundamental aspects of full life. It supports teachers to be multipliers and ambassadors of a positive learning system. The work of the foundation is centered around educational researchinnovation, didactic coachingtraining teachers and consulting management teamsThrough their activities, health and self-care are amongst the core principles.  

What changed with Corona?

With schools all over Spain and in most parts of the world closed, the need for teachers to reach out to their students through distance teaching became essential within the first days of the emergencyAt the same time, the field of health services faced severe risks due to the fast outbreak of Covid-19, particularly transmitted by people with mild symptoms or asymptomatic

The (biggest) challenge: Relieve caregivers, prevent outbreaks, and support distance learning.

Healthcare systems were quickly overburdened, making it hard to tend to everybody’s needs. But how is it possible to support primary care doctors and nurses when every contact is potentially contagious? How can patients with asymptomatic or mild symptoms be treated without contributing to the outbreak? What is the best way to raise awareness about our shared responsibility in this?  

In the field of education: How can teachers effectively shift their work to distance learning, supporting the millions of children and young people stuck at home?  

The solution:

Trilema Foundation was very quick to implement a safe and effective home care model that guarantees the protection of the sick and their familiesIt reduces the burden of care for health care systems and contributes to preventing the transmission of the disease. remote platform, an app, enables the active participation of the patient and, at the same time, a remote daily follow-up from primary care professionals. It is designed to help in the care and monitoring of patients in isolation and/or in quarantine and aims to tend to 17,000 elderly people. 

To support teachers in this difficult situation and empower them to have impactful distance learning, Trilema Foundation is developing training cycles and is sharing materials with teachers who are now exploring methods of distance learning so that they may continue education and development in times of Covid-19. 

The personal biggest worry and hope:

Ashoka: How are you dealing with the situation and what is your biggest personal worry?

Carmen:My biggest worry is how all of this damage is going to affect the young. We don’t only need to overcome the hurdle of distance learning, but also learn to deal with difficult emotions and circumstances.

Ashoka: What is inspiring you and giving you hope that we can overcome this crisis?

Carmen: I am in awe of society’s response as a whole. It is true what they say that, in trying times, we see the best in humanity. I have witnessed how teachers and healthcare workers have risen up to the occasion and worked harder than ever to power through the crisis.