 |
| A project that is aimed at the "we" |
We’re seeing the “we” at work in Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s clothing drive for charity, Hangout4Ubuntu, now happening on Friday 3 October from 7am.
(The event had been scheduled for 1 October but the rain is going to keep us all away, so Friday it now is).
It’s a “we” that embraces the benefits of coming together to serve others because in coming to together we can do a much better job.
Ubuntu is one of NMMU’s six values.
My understanding of this African philosophy, which revolves around respecting and recognising our fellow man, has been magnified in the build-up to Hangout4Ubuntu when we’ll be pegging collected clothing along 400m of fencing leading into our North and South campuses in Summerstrand.
Very briefly, the aim of the project is two-fold:
· to raise awareness of the value of ubuntu among staff and students
· to support the clothing needs of others whose needs are greater than our own
But I have also learnt through discussions between various groups at the university, that Ubuntu is also about togetherness. It’s about the “we”, and not the ”I”.
That’s why a suggestion for the residences and student societies to compete against each other in terms of collecting the most clothing for charity, was gently pooh-poohed.
“Ubuntu is not about competition. It’s about working together for the benefits of others – not for ourselves,” a wise 20-something person gently remonstrated.
And that’s the essence of it all really. It’s about making a difference together. It’s about working as a team for the greater good and not for individual glory.
It’s not an easy notion for those raised to compete, achieve and be successful, to easily grasp. But once you do start to understand and appreciate the bigger benefits, it’s quite liberating … and ever so satisfactory to be part of something bigger – a part of something in which the “we” overrides the “I”.
Thank you for teaching me (us) more
No comments:
Post a Comment