Ubuntu Now Explained
T he first World Cup that we used to gather support was held in South Africa in 2010. During our research we learned about a core element of South African society called Ubuntu. In a common brief definition it means “I am what I am because of who we all are.”. It can’t be directly translated to English but “humanity to others” is another commonly used term. We were particularly impressed with the words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu:
A person with Ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, based from a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed.
He went on to explain Ubuntu thusly:
One of the sayings in our country is Ubuntu – the essence of being human. Ubuntu speaks particularly about the fact that you can’t exist as a human being in isolation. It speaks about our interconnectedness. You can’t be human all by yourself, and when you have this quality – Ubuntu – you are known for your generosity. We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole World. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity.
This captured our imagination at the time when were looking for a name for our organization. We feel that this is a concept that can be applied globally and will lead to a more peaceful world.
