New Longevity

For the first time in history, there are more people above 65 years old than there are below five. There isn’t an aspect of our lives and economies that isn’t affected by this Big Shift. Longer lives don’t just add years to the end of life but extend and transform all stages of life. Five questions guide our response.

What are the new roles we can create to build a better world for all ages?

How can we maintain purposeful, healthy lives as we age?

How do we reverse age segregation and address the loneliness epidemic affecting all generations?

What if older and younger generations worked together to solve the problems that no one generation can solve alone?

What are the opportunities of living in the most age-diverse society in human history?

Thrive Together: A Changemaking Guide to Intergenerational Collaboration

How can societies transition from being age-segregated to becoming places where diverse age groups are deeply connected and collaborate? This is the foundation of our guide, offering a roadmap inspired by the wisdom of visionary leaders who are helping transform how we interact across generations.

Through insightful anecdotes, research-driven principles, and practical tools, this guide invites individuals, groups, and organizations to reimagine community dynamics, educational systems, workplaces, and public spaces.

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A Special Power for Longevity

See our latest stories showcasing some of the Ashoka Fellows who are pushing the Longevity field forward.

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Our Priorities

Ashoka is the world’s largest network of social entrepreneurs and a global leader in social innovation. Through the lens of hundreds of social innovators in the New Longevity field, we see creative ways to build a better future for all.

As this work is done, older people everywhere will break out of self-defeating stereotypes to take on the new power of being changemakers and live a deeply satisfying life of purpose, health and happiness. This is our vision.

Elder women in a circle at a conference in discussion

Create demand for lifelong contribution

People have the choice and opportunity to learn and work throughout life thanks to structural supports, more inclusive policies, and pro-ageing mindsets.

Two women sit on a bench together in conversation

Redesign health systems and caregiving for longer healthspan

People stay healthier for longer as they are enabled to take more ownership of their health and wellbeing from a younger age.

Seven older women on two soccer teams, one wearing red jerseys and the other white, share celebrations after a soccer game.

Promote social connectedness and purpose for healthy longevity

Intergenerational connection, learning and collaboration become a norm and are incentivized.

Fit for Life Foundation Partnership

Ashoka and the Fit for Life Foundation announce a partnership to accelerate healthy longevity Together, Ashoka and the Fit for Life Foundation share a commitment to fostering a world where everyone can live a healthy, purposeful life and is recognized and valued for their contribution to society, regardless of age. Both organizations seek to support broader recognition for social innovation and the entrepreneurial spirit as a fundamental building block of a better future.

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BBK New Longevity Summit

For the first time in human history, there are more people over the age of 65 than children under the age of five. And by 2050 the number of people aged over 80 will triple. The statistics show a new reality. At the same time, this longevity revolution is by no means only about older persons. Longer lives don’t just add years to the end of life, but extend and transform all stages of life.

Identifying the opportunities and challenges that this demographic shift and the multi-staged human lifespan represent in our society is key, with profound implications in areas such as urban planning, education, healthcare and prevention of diseases, labor market, mobility, culture, governance.

In 2022, we gathered for the BBK New Longevity Summit to connect avant-garde ideas in the field of longevity. Together, we learned from social entrepreneurs addressing longevity with systems-changing approaches, connected local and international changemakers, and generated alliances between social entrepreneurs, business/industry leaders, companies and philanthropists.

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