GENIUS OF WASTE
Origin
One Thursday evening over dinner I was presented with an article called the Genius of Space, which inspired my true drive and passion – making effective tangible change to address socio -economic disparity within developing economies. Immediately this project carried the scope of why I decided to become an entrepreneur; why I felt there were better methods of conducting business; to make a contribution to address the huge void between the haves and have nots.
By chance rather than design, this vision demanded a Social Enterprise mentality. My company was started and continues to grow organically. It has forced me to pioneer a business with Social Enterprise thinking, a mindset hugely driven by my family’s values.
A drone picture displaying the vast disparity of unequal wealth distribution
Where I continuously weigh up the cost benefit of productivity and sustainability over social impact. I was fortunate enough to watch my family progress through the very trials and tribulations experienced within the informal settlements. Parents living in corrugated iron homes on Government land, is our family’s humble beginning, progressing to buying their first home, accessing the finest schools, providing access to university.
These life lessons have been instilled in my DNA, these are skills you can’t assume or pretend to have, transparency is key. These are skills which need to be passed on, these are the skills which allow us to address the issue of inequality and social injustice. This is my position paper & my philosophy which is the “Genius of Waste.”
GENIUS OF WASTE
Concept
Genius of Waste is a concept to address socio economic issues, using waste materials as a resource to address economic growth, environmental stability, social upliftment and tangible relief from a life of poverty, despair and abandonment.
My experience has enlightened me to believe that the optimal beneficiation of waste (Resource), the appropriately directed use of resources, and the empowerment of our countries hugest asset (low skilled labour) could bring about a well overdue change in systematic thinking to carry out effective change.
Allow me to unlock this Genius of Waste Philosophy……
This concept has several stakeholders, who all need to be in place to fully understand the core components to ensure a sustainable transition and fully measure the scope through their expert lenses:
- Humanity
- Government
- Universities
- Business
GENIUS OF WASTE
Humanity
The first and most pressing focus area is the Human Factor. A portion of society has been neglected and deprived. A drastic change in behaviour needs to take place, to allow a positive transition. It’s my belief social change is possible, the behavioural change embarked by individuals who have managed to make this transition needs to be studied. The next step is to set out a set of measurement criteria to measure current behavioural changes noted. Informal settlements residents need to understand they need to add value to:
- Society
- Themselves
- Up to them to uplift themselves
Formal settlement resident need to understand they need to add value to:
- Support the social change
- Redirecting thinking to affect change
- Understand role in facilitating change
Business
- Technology optimisation – Cost benefit relationship
- Social Franchise Model
- Developing local tech, more suitable for socio-economic drivers for change
Government
- Understand current thought patterns are not effective
- Open enabling environments to effect change
- Encourage the private market to assist in process
- Implement policy to effect change
- Assess the role of outside Consultants, should they be employing inhouse experts?
- Micro- Pilot
- Macroeconomic thought process
- Co-creative earning between governments
Universities
- Educational learning outcomes
- Master/Doctorate thesis programme designed
Focus Areas:
- Behavioural Science
- Social Science
- Sustainable /Green Economy
- Circular economic Philosophy
- Chemical Engineering
- Soil Science
- Water Science
- Business Administration
GENIUS OF WASTE
Conclusion
Waste is a valuable resource, we believe this Circular Economic Social Franchise Model could drastically disrupt the current status quo in informal settlements around the world. It will smash all current acceptable measurements of sustainable social impact. We are working towards Sustaining the Job requirements for a waste management service in the informal settlement. The micro Franchise will become a service provider to a paying formal economy. A percentage of Profits will between used as an informal settlement infrastructure saving fund.