Being a student at UCT, I am struck by the fact that I am one of the lucky ones. Many people have their ambitions to study cut short by the high demand and limited supply for university placements.
Coming from a country with over 80% literacy, the value of an education is something I understand. Fortunately for me, this very education has given me a think local act global outlook to the challenges that are manifest on the African continent.
I believe that an education that depends solely on Corporate Investment is vulnerable and as such, those that understand its importance – students, teachers, lecturers, parents and other patrons – should be the front runners in its micro-investment. Most significantly I believe the student can play a much greater role.
We want to make the ‘buying of stocks or property’ (that includes lecture theatres, halls, residences and laboratories) as easy as buying Chappies – literally. It will be as simple as sending R5 from your Facebook Account on our interface, which in a couple of years’ time while equate to not only a worthy cause but dividends as well.
Education deserves an emotive support system, because Africa is at a stage where its political, economic and social development depends on the education of young people. Let’s build our universities through micro-investments.
Information is a very powerful tool. As we have seen lately, regimes and conglomerates have been taken down by the power of information mediums. With the right information, I believe significant steps can be made in harnessing a new future for education on the continent.
Currently set at 14%, VAT is included in the price of most goods and services. Although foreign students are allowed to claim back VAT paid on items taken out of the country when the total value exceeds R250, very few students do that. As such, the RSA revenue authority prejudices millions of Rands on unclaimed taxes. This money no matter how little, presents the most significant candidates for our micro-investment matrix.
With Project Zeitgeist, my team and I are looking for partners in the dissemination of such key information through technology and the building of a trusted brand. Africa is ours and we are here to make a home out of it.
Moreover, university is a period of great waste and expense. Given warranted financial support and in some instances opportunity to earn non-aligned sources of money, e.g. student or part time jobs – a demand to spend grows. Due to newly found freedoms and experiences, diversion of investment from long-term to short-term ventures dominates. Students surrender millions every year, not because they are unwise, but because there is no unity of purpose around anything better that they can do with their money. This is where the brand comes in “young people investing in the interests of other young people”.
Consider a paradigm shift that changes what it means to spend money, whilst using devices like entertainment, recreation and social media that young people can relate to in a way that gives them and others a future per rand invested. The youth always lack a sense of duty only because they feel left out, and as such behave in a way that reflects that.
