Episode 5: The Cost of the Future

What does a national budget have to do with a four-year-old’s chance to thrive? In this compelling episode of Our Voice, Our Future, we explore how decisions made in government, treasury departments, and corporate boardrooms directly shape the lives and futures of South Africa’s youngest citizens. Only 45% of children aged 3–5 are enrolled in early learning programmes. One in four children under five is stunted due to chronic malnutrition. And 81% of Grade 4 learners are unable to read for meaning in any language. These aren’t just statistics – they’re signs of a system that fails to recognise early childhood development (ECD) as a vital public investment. Too often, children remain invisible in economic models, development strategies, and budget allocations. We’re joined by Kelly Morkel, a social policy expert and advocate for child-focused governance, to examine how ESG frameworks, SDG 4 (Quality Education), and long-term planning can – and must – centre children in public investment. In this episode, we discuss: - Why children are excluded from mainstream economic thinking - The long-term social and economic cost of underfunding ECD - How ESG and SDG 4 can reshape national priorities - What role must government, business and civil society play Be part of the movement to prioritise children in economic recovery and national planning because the cost of the future should never be paid by those with the least power to shape it. #OurVoiceOurFuture #ECDMatters #BudgetForChildren #BreadlineAfrica