Ubuntu Civics Academy

Honoured to have eighteen new students from the University of Massachusetts do our 'uBuntu - The Spirit of South Africa' course as part of their annual working visit to South Africa. This is the fourth touring group to learn about uBuntu and write an exam on uBuntu before their arrival in South Africa.

This is super exciting, and reading their exam replies, always fantastic!

This course provides a comprehensive answer to the question: "What is uBuntu?" for members of our global community that have a special interest and a love for South Africa, whether they are visiting or not.

With UMASS returning to South Africa year after year to look after the projects that they are involved, we are seeing a wonderful example of uBuntu in Action.

We look forward to welcoming this special group to South Africa in about three weeks' time.

In the process of completing our course "uBuntuWise" for people working in the field of nature and the environment where hospitality plays a central role.

For most, 'hospitality’ is associated with ‘home’, which is why the point of entry and the setting for our lessons on the topic of African hospitality is the 'lapa/lelapa' (‘isibaya’ in isiZulu) - also known as a ‘kraal’’ and ‘boma.

In our courses, students are invited to make themselves at home in the African lapa, next to the burning fire.

African hospitality is the expression of awareness that goes much deeper and beyond catering and kind reception of guests.... the consciousness of inter-dependence…. the core of African hospitality.

Learning about African hospitality brings one in touch with aspects of South African life that we have come to love and cherish so much.... that makes South Africa our home.

Included in uBuntuWise - our course for people in the Nature and Environment field, is a lesson on the Flower of Life as an illustration of how everything in life flows, grows, blossoms together.

The Flower of Life - one of the most recognized symbols in the ancient and modern world, has been discovered across numerous cultures in various places in the world. The Temple of Osiris in Abydos, Egypt is where the oldest known examples of the Flower of Life can be found.

The symbol that is described as 'the blueprint of the universe' has been etched into some of the most historical and impressive structures of the world - A famous one - in front of the Golden Temple in India.

There was also Leonardo Da Vinci’s fascination with the Flower of Life that is very interesting.

Studying the Flower of Life with its various components deeply and intensely led him to produce numerous geometric figures such as platonic solids, spheres, tori, and more, and, to incorporate the golden ratio or phi that is derived from the Flower of Life, into his artwork.

Looking at life from various angles and depths make our lessons on uBuntu truly special, unique, and enriching.

A Japanese story of harmony.

"No man is an island," they say.

But to join the continent, must we dissolve?

Must we smooth our edges until our names are lost to a nameless gray?

In the patchwork of Boro and the geometric puzzle of Yosegi-zaiku, Japanese artisans found another way.

They gathered what was different and let it remain so.

Consider the stone walls of old—unshaped, rugged, and ancient.

They do not stand because they are perfect; they stand because their imperfections lock together in an unbreakable embrace.

Jūnin Toiro"—Ten People, Ten Colors.

True harmony is not the loss of self.

It is the art of standing side by side, distinct and whole,
forming a strength that no single shape could ever achieve."

uBuntu. A community of selves.

https://youtu.be/N8fXw1Bfluc?si=Cs66SBqppShYtJUX

https://youtu.be/N8fXw1Bfluc?si=Cs66SBqppShYtJUX

Jūnin Toiro | Why Japanese Stone Walls Do Not Collapse: The Philosophy of Imperfection "No man is an island," they say.But to join the continent, must we dissolve? Must we smooth our edges until our names are lost to a nameless gray?In the patc...

Preparing for the fourth group of UMASS students that will be doing our course on uBuntu as part of the University's annual working visit to South Africa.

Students complete the course that includes an exam, right before they arrive in South Africa... normally during the month of May.

This week we spent revising and cleaning up our course that includes a lesson 'Alive with uBuntu,' - an introduction of a great variety of aspects of everyday South African life that are a reflection of the Spirit of South Africa – our uBuntu, that visitors are likely to come across.

The couse, “uBuntu – The Spirit of South Africa” has been designed especially for the global and international community. For individuals and or groups living outside of South Africa and or visiting our beautiful country… People that have a love for and or a special interest in South Africa. It is for people who want to learn what the HEART, the Spirit, and the Soul of South Africa is all about.

The course provides a comprehensive answer to the question: “What is uBuntu?” whilst giving students a colorful insight into South African culture and traditions.

The course is meant to help people realise the value and the importance of uBuntu not only for the benefit of South Africa, but the whole world.

It is an honoring and a celebration of uBuntu and the spirit of South Africa as a link in the chain of our shared story, a voice in our global chorus, a page in the book of the world, notes in the song of humanity.

After two months of hard work, our ten-lesson course on uBuntu is now finally ready to be piloted. May thousands of children enjoy learning about this African Story of our Interconnectedness and Belonging.

Information about the course is in the link.

uBuntu I Am because We Are for Kids Course information This interactive flipbook is created with FlippingBook, a service for streaming PDFs online. No download, no waiting. Open and start reading right away!

Potential - Essential Element of uBuntu no 2, reminds us that we are not fixed, and always be-coming. Together with nature and the environment, we are always in the process of be-coming our highest potential.

ubu = to be-come
ntu = our highest potential

Our symbol for this element is the Golden Ratio/Golden Mean/Fibonacci Sequence - the breathtaking mathematical phenomenon found throughout nature, in art, and architecture.

Throughout our special course for children, with the Mandala as a creative tool, children have direct experience of our connection to the Greater Cosmos.

Finally, the last lesson - Hey! We have uBuntu, of our new special course for children.

In this lesson we confirm that uBuntu is part of who we all are.... AND, that uBuntu grows and spreads through excellence.

Children learn about seven actions that would help us to nurture, grow, and spread uBuntu - the last step being about making quiet time, to pray, or meditate for uBuntu and for Peace and prosperity for South Africa and the world.

Okay. Let's do this!