“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.” – Winston Churchill

The Cost of Aspiration

In September 2015, the international poverty line was calculated to be $1.90, which in effect started the UN on an agenda to eradicate poverty by the year 2030. Their intent is to create conditions for sustainable, inclusive and sustained economic growth, prosperity and decent work for all.

The UN foresees a future free of poverty and hunger. A future with universal respect for human rights and human dignity. They have discovered disparities in opportunities, wealth, power and unemployment, especially youth unemployment to be of enormous concern.

Vulnerable people should be empowered, by removing obstacles and constraints by strengthening support and meeting the basic needs of all people. In his book Happiness, economist Richard Layard examines what it is that makes us happy and how anyone can achieve greater happiness. Richard suggests that in order for individuals to be aspirational their basic needs like clean drinking water, food, safety and shelter need to be met.

According to Stats SA’s 2021 Poverty Line report, South African individuals exposed to extreme poverty were surviving on R624.00 (based on April 2021 prices) per month. That’s R20.17 per day, R9.07 below the UN’s 2015 international poverty line.

So, how much does it cost to be aspirational?

We figured that for individuals to be aspirational, the average household income in our communities needs to be at a minimum of R17 000 per month and we are focusing our efforts towards the following;

• Growing local economies through SME sustainability, growth and resilience.
• Sponsoring programmes that foster interdependent business communities that co-create strategies for success.

Explore our website & find ways you can help yourself and others achieve greater happiness.