Aspirations - enabling to dream

I am now back to my studies from a wonderful weekend - thanks Maja, Caro and Mike!

My dissertation is keeping me busy but at the same time I had the chance to explore a new issue I am interested in: enabling the capacity to aspire.

Throughout my time in AIESEC, I was always passionate about supporting people to achieve their potential. Now, through meeting people from many different backgrounds in England and reading about 'the poor' for my dissertation, I thought more and more about the following:

Could it be that in order for people to fulfill their potential, they need to be able to dream?

If someone doesn't have dreams, hopes or ambitions, is it likely that they will fulfill their potential?

What are the conditions under which people 'dream best'? Basic needs satisfaction? Networks? Knowledge of options (education) ?

When I was a primary school student I thought a classmate of mine was stupid, she did not want to learn, did not seem to want anything with her life as it seemed to me at the age of 8. Only later I found out she had been abused at home, came from a deprived family and faced many difficulties.

Appadurai's article (the capacity to aspire) made me think: he says that the capacity to aspire is not evenly distributed in our world. I know now that the girl in primary school was no bit stupider than me, maybe more intelligent. I am asking myself: what needs to happen for everyone having equal capacities to aspire?

Tomorrow I have a meeting with Tom, a very inspiring person who is also interested in the subject - let's see what I learn from him!