Tackling inequality starts with investing in children

Madam,

Investment in young children may be the single greatest opportunity to escape the ineTuality trap. We know that children are imbued with poten tial, but for most children this potential is constrained by a constellation of social, psychological, economic and political factors. They are stuck in a cycle of poverty that limits social mobility.

The conseTuence of inhibiting chil dren¶s potential is manifesting strong ly. (swatini is among the most une Tual countries in the world. Inherited circumstances, such as gender or place of birth account for almost half of the overall ineTuality in this country.

High income ineTuality leads to low er social mobility across generations. Contributing factors are the country¶s stubbornly high unemployment rate ± particularly among the youth, and the social and economic disconnect edness of the poorest among us.

We know that the ineTuality of op portunity means that every child does not start life with the same chances. %ut imagine if every child could reach their full potential; this would spill over into economic and social benefits for the entire country.

5esearch shows that the highest rate of economic returns comes from the earliest investments in children. The first five years of a child¶s life lay the groundwork for their lifelong development ± a crucial period where access to early learning, good nutri tion, care and safety can set a child on a pathway of compounding pos itive effects as they enter school and beyond. However, we are sTuander ing this powerful opportunity. (arly learning holds immense opportunities for children ± a lifeline to escape the ineTuality trap.

Kayin Scholtz