| Let integrity lead.
| Let integrity lead.
Bart is a Zen Buddhist monk and social entrepreneur. He is the founder of two inspiring social initiatives: apopo.org and more recently innerpreneurs.org.
apopo.org was launched in response to the global problem of hidden landmines and other explosives of war in more than 60 countries. By training giant African rats (also known as HeroRATs) as sustainable landmine detectors, the organisation creates safe spaces in war torn countries. Apopo also trains HeroDOGs to help rid the world of landmines and tuberculosis. The company started in 1995 as a modest research initiative in detection rats technology and grew into a global humanitarian operation and one of the leading social enterprises in the world, recognised and awarded by networks like Ashoka, the Skoll Awards and the World Economic Forum.
After Mozambique officially announced itself free from landmines in 2015, Bart transitioned from his executive role to focus on the practice of Zen. In the same year he got involved in The Wellbeing Project aimed at cultivating inner wellbeing for all changemakers. While exploring the relationship between personal growth and social innovation, Bart recently co-founded a new initiative, innerpreneurs.org – a brave space for entrepreneurial leaders to fulfil their noble life purpose.
Bart Weetjens graduated in Product Design from Antwerp University with a vision to empower the most vulnerable communities of subsistence farmers in sub-Sahara Africa.
Thanks to our valued partners and to all the Fellows who continue to contribute in many ways.
