‘Let’s nationalise umtarara’

Beyond the Classroom Alice winners Tamzin Lewis, Callyn Bowler and Velma Mora

Yes, you read it correctly. The word is umtarara. But you won’t find it in the dictionary. And yet, our boss man, the university’s vice-chancellor, Prof Derrick Swartz, wants to nationalise the phrase.

And all with good reason too.

For getting “off your umtarara” (a made-up word for getting up and doing something about something rather than simply complaining), is what will change this beautiful country of ours.

It’s what the university’s Beyond the Classroom graduates (BtC) at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Univeristy (NMMU) do – they change lives.

They change their own lives, and very often they change the lives of others too.

This staff, sponsors and the 280 graduates of this year’s programme learnt at the annual end-of-the-programme graduation breakfast held at Bayworld.

“You epitomize the philosophy of how the little things together can change the world,” a proud Prof Derrick Swartz shared.

“You have something great going here … the best plan is to ignite the flame in everyone so that they can turn the world around. We now have the responsibility of challenging others to get of their umtararas.

“I need to speak to my friend, Trevor Manual. We needed to nationalize this phrase!” he laughed.

The voluntary leadership programme which started in 2009 with 29 students, introduces the university’s young people to the requirements of leadership in a practical, ethical way through a variety of workshops and via 20 hours of community service.

Many students sign up recognising that the extra-curriculum year-long programme will be good for their CVs, but graduate realising that the benefits extend far beyond a piece of paper. The programme changes them – often taking them from a “me to we” mindset (to quote Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makhoba) in the way they now view the world.

And more importantly, their input benefits others.

Their stories are a testament to that change - from the R1 for five project in which each student collected R1 from five friends to jointly raise R4943 for the Reach for a Dream foundation through to two residence students’ commitment to feeding hungry fellow students.

It was the latter initiative by third-year psychology students Tamzin Lewis and Velma Mora to shop, cook and feed others on a daily basis, along with the outreach to Motor Neuron sufferers and their families by another psychology student, Callyn Bowler, that saw all three of them win the Alice award. (They also received R2 500 each to give to a charity of their choice … which had one in tears – joyful tears - simply because it meant she now had the means to help these students with food through the university holidays).

The Alice (A Little  Involvement Changes Everything) award goes to the student who goes above and beyond when it comes to the community outreach section of the programme.

Beyond the Classroom graduates and their mentors

When we attend functions like this, we are inspired, encouraged and excited about our future. Here we have youngsters who look beyond the me to the we; those who get off their umtararas and make a difference.

And now perhaps I should get off my umtarara and find out what it takes to get a new word into the South African dictionary; a word that exemplifies just what this country needs – a great move of the umtarara!

Well done to the BtC class of 2014, you make us proud!