“In the face of impossible odds, people who love this country can change it.” – Barack Obama
We believe that there are 5 key pillars we should focus on to guide us as we create a better Aid Model: Responsible Citizenship is our 1st Pillar.
Responsible Living
Every citizen plays a role in their community, country and the World. Each of us should be making an effort to play a positive role. Unfortunately, when someone lives in poverty, it’s sometimes necessary to turn to crime to survive.
That’s where a value-creation aid model could make a real difference. Imagine an aid model that enables marginalised individuals to be positive change agents in their communities and ensures value-creation for not only the beneficiaries, but for donors, our economy and the environment too.
Responsible Giving
There are so many in need. South Africa is said to be the World’s most unequal country (as per United Nations reports). So much aid is invested through social grants, non-profits and other channels. Yet what tangible change have we seen? We need to ask ourselves, are we giving in a way that will truly create measurable change? And the answer is quite simply: No, we’re not.
It’s time to change how we give and get aid for our marginalised citizens. It’s time to identify marginalised households and individuals who are prepared to be the positive change agents in their communities and provide them with access to the resources and opportunities they need to get themselves out of poverty and become responsible citizens, contributing to the growth of their community and country.
South Africa had numerous socio-economic challenges pre-COVID which have all been made worse because of the Pandemic.
If we’re to rise to the challenge of leading our post-COVID-19 recovery and embrace the opportunities created by the “new normal”, we need to adopt an attitude of living and giving responsibly – as donors and as beneficiaries. If we can do this, we can build an inclusive economy, create employment and transform our country.
We’re in this together, as interconnected and interdependent partners!
