NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Friday, December 16, 2016

“What a man can be, he must be. This need we call self-actualization,” said Dr. Abraham Maslow, a psychologist who, in 1943, wrote about his theory on human’s hierarchy of needs.

It starts with the very basic of human needs—air, food, water—and then, there’s the need for safety, security and stability, followed by love and a sense of belonging. Next comes esteem needs—prestige and a feeling of accomplishment—and at the top of the tier are self-actualizing needs, such as becoming fulfilled and having a purpose. When a need is satisfied, the person is able to move to the next level in his or her life.

Seeking to create lasting change in the lives of people in Africa is Health to Humanity (H2H), which describes itself as a “for-profit company with giving at its core.” Its mission is to help prevent hygiene-related diseases and provide entrepreneurial training in countries around the globe. H2H’s founder, John Cefalu, came up with the idea while he was a student at Chapman University in Orange, CA.