Ubuntu is a uniquely African concept that exists in communities all over the continent in various forms. The word ‘’Ubuntu’’ itself, however, has South African roots in Nguni languages such as Xhosa and Zulu, and means ‘’humanity’’. To South Africans, the philosophy of Ubuntu is particularly special as it was endorsed and promoted by the late leader of our country, Nelson Mandela, during his presidency. In the book, Mandela’s Way: Fifteen Lessons on Life, Love, and Courage, Mandela defined Ubuntu as, “the profound sense that we are human only through the humanity of others; that if we are to accomplish anything in this world, it will in equal measure be due to the work and achievements of others”.
This definition, however, cannot nearly encapsulate all the significance and power that this word holds. There is a tendency to trivialise the philosophy of Ubuntu to simply refer to being generous to our neighbours, when in actuality, it is the very foundation of any successful society. It is our values that shape us into authentic human beings and our inherent desire to be a part of a larger and more significant relational, communal, societal, environmental, and spiritual world. Another renowned South African politician, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, described Ubuntu as meaning “My humanity is caught up, is inextricably bound up, in what is yours.”
We practice Ubuntu nearly every day of our lives in ways that we may not know. When we show respect to elders, when we help our community, a neighbour, or a friend, or when we place the needs of others above our own in an act of selflessness, we are undeniably carrying out the spirit of Ubuntu.
South Africa sees a change of seasons during the month of September, as we transition from winter to spring. On the 24th of September, in the sunny weather, South Africans all over the country beam brightly as they celebrate National Heritage Day with friends, family, and delicious food. This year, instead of the usual braai, Relocation Africa decided to celebrate National Heritage Day by commemorating the concept that is deeply embedded in our heritage and culture; the philosophy of Ubuntu.
We took the opportunity to coordinate a clothing drive for an organisation that we would like to give recognition to. Sisters Incorporated is based in the same community as our head office, and for this reason, we reached out to other members of the community for help, thereby making the clothing drive a communal effort instead of a mere company project. We handed out flyers, spoke to neighbouring businesses, and encouraged residents to get involved in the effort. Words cannot describe the joyous feeling of hearing the doorbell ring and seeing the kind person on the other side of the gate standing with their donations in hand, or the warm feeling of recognising the good that exists in the world.
Love is not lost, generosity is not lost, humility and kindness are not lost. It lives here in Africa.
Eventually, the clothing drive evolved as we saw people bring in all kinds of gently used items of value. The staff in our head office began bringing their donations in slowly but surely, and members outside of our company overwhelmed us with the number of boxes of clothes, crockery, cutlery, crafts, toys, trinkets, ornaments, and so much more, that were being brought in. It was heartwarming to see the energy that everyone was investing into doing something for a greater cause.
The day of the drop-off finally arrived and the women in the office found themselves sharing the duties of packing the goods into boxes. Good actions do good things for the soul, and this is evident in the way that the ladies in the office were passing around ceramic cups and glass trinkets to be wrapped securely in newspaper and packed neatly into boxes, folding clothes into piles, and pointing out the fun crafts that would all be added to the donations for Sisters Incorporated.
The scene encapsulated unity, helpfulness, and companionship. These are all the principles that Sisters Incorporated represent and instill in the women that they provide care for.
About Sisters Incorporated
Sisters Incorporated offers aid to abused women and children irrespective of their race, ethnicity, age, or class. They work hard at providing trauma counselling for these women and upskilling them in aim to transform them into active members of the public. Part of their mission statement is ‘’We provide care – free of judgement, criticism, and bias – and aspire to empower those who pass through our doors, to become better equipped for their role in society’’.
Upon arriving at their gates, the ladies at Sisters Incorporated greeted us with warm embraces and welcomed us inside their office. We sat and chatted for so long that we lost track of time, with topics of conversation ranging from details of the amazing work that they do at bettering the wellbeing of the women in the community, to how our values align with one another’s, and the different ways in which any individual can help out.
We encourage our readers to visit Sisters Incorporated’s website, and support them in any way possible. Their staff is eager to arrange a meeting with any potential donors, educate and inform you on what they do, or even embrace you and offer assistance if you ever find yourself needing help.
They offer holistic care, meaning that their objective is to help the individual heal in every way that they may need healing. This means that they have an in-house social worker to help the women and children overcome the trauma and abuse of their past. With a staff of over fourteen members, and an equally sized group of volunteers, their personnel include two house mothers who rotate shifts in order to have someone on duty 24/7, in the event that any woman may need immediate assistance. They also employ a cook who prepares warm meals for the ladies and their children every day, three times a day. More importantly, they have an amazing workforce that is dedicated to teaching the ladies practical skills that they can make use of in future as a means to generate an income for themselves, such as sowing, beading, and crafts.
Sisters Incorporated would not be able to do the extraordinary work that they do alone. Each person plays a vital role in the success of Sisters Incorporated and their ability to provide aid to those in need. Every member of their staff, every volunteer, every woman that walks through the gates seeking assistance, and every donor, contributes to the mechanism that is Sisters Incorporated. They are a true embodiment of the philosophy of Ubuntu. In their story, and even in efforts shown by the community and beyond, lies every factor that Nelson Mandela associated with the meaning of Ubuntu: Helpfulness, sharing, respect, care, trust, and unselfishness.
According to the South African philosophy, a person who behaves in these ways has Ubuntu, and therefore they are a full person.
Ubuntu is the natural propensity of the human to establish connections and build upon them. In South Africa, it is symbolic of our ability to unite with one another in striving towards a common good, and it encourages us toward selfless acts. Ubuntu is the word for humanity in the native Nguni languages of South Africa, and humanity is a quality we owe to each other.
Learn more about the inspirational work being done at Sisters Incorporated or contact their unsung heroes to make a donation by visiting their website.
Read more on the importance of charity and selflessness in a similar blog, or visit our Knowledge Centre to access our exclusive blogs, newsposts, and educational webinars.
Celebrating Ubuntu this Heritage Month: The Power of Community
Ubuntu is a uniquely African concept that exists in communities all over the continent in various forms. The word ‘’Ubuntu’’ itself, however, has South African roots in Nguni languages such as Xhosa and Zulu, and means ‘’humanity’’. To South Africans, the philosophy of Ubuntu is particularly special as it was endorsed and promoted by the late leader of our country, Nelson Mandela, during his presidency. In the book, Mandela’s Way: Fifteen Lessons on Life, Love, and Courage, Mandela defined Ubuntu as, “the profound sense that we are human only through the humanity of others; that if we are to accomplish anything in this world, it will in equal measure be due to the work and achievements of others”.
This definition, however, cannot nearly encapsulate all the significance and power that this word holds. There is a tendency to trivialise the philosophy of Ubuntu to simply refer to being generous to our neighbours, when in actuality, it is the very foundation of any successful society. It is our values that shape us into authentic human beings and our inherent desire to be a part of a larger and more significant relational, communal, societal, environmental, and spiritual world. Another renowned South African politician, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, described Ubuntu as meaning “My humanity is caught up, is inextricably bound up, in what is yours.”
We practice Ubuntu nearly every day of our lives in ways that we may not know. When we show respect to elders, when we help our community, a neighbour, or a friend, or when we place the needs of others above our own in an act of selflessness, we are undeniably carrying out the spirit of Ubuntu.
South Africa sees a change of seasons during the month of September, as we transition from winter to spring. On the 24th of September, in the sunny weather, South Africans all over the country beam brightly as they celebrate National Heritage Day with friends, family, and delicious food. This year, instead of the usual braai, Relocation Africa decided to celebrate National Heritage Day by commemorating the concept that is deeply embedded in our heritage and culture; the philosophy of Ubuntu.
We took the opportunity to coordinate a clothing drive for an organisation that we would like to give recognition to. Sisters Incorporated is based in the same community as our head office, and for this reason, we reached out to other members of the community for help, thereby making the clothing drive a communal effort instead of a mere company project. We handed out flyers, spoke to neighbouring businesses, and encouraged residents to get involved in the effort. Words cannot describe the joyous feeling of hearing the doorbell ring and seeing the kind person on the other side of the gate standing with their donations in hand, or the warm feeling of recognising the good that exists in the world.
Love is not lost, generosity is not lost, humility and kindness are not lost. It lives here in Africa.
Eventually, the clothing drive evolved as we saw people bring in all kinds of gently used items of value. The staff in our head office began bringing their donations in slowly but surely, and members outside of our company overwhelmed us with the number of boxes of clothes, crockery, cutlery, crafts, toys, trinkets, ornaments, and so much more, that were being brought in. It was heartwarming to see the energy that everyone was investing into doing something for a greater cause.
The day of the drop-off finally arrived and the women in the office found themselves sharing the duties of packing the goods into boxes. Good actions do good things for the soul, and this is evident in the way that the ladies in the office were passing around ceramic cups and glass trinkets to be wrapped securely in newspaper and packed neatly into boxes, folding clothes into piles, and pointing out the fun crafts that would all be added to the donations for Sisters Incorporated.
The scene encapsulated unity, helpfulness, and companionship. These are all the principles that Sisters Incorporated represent and instill in the women that they provide care for.
About Sisters Incorporated
Sisters Incorporated offers aid to abused women and children irrespective of their race, ethnicity, age, or class. They work hard at providing trauma counselling for these women and upskilling them in aim to transform them into active members of the public. Part of their mission statement is ‘’We provide care – free of judgement, criticism, and bias – and aspire to empower those who pass through our doors, to become better equipped for their role in society’’.
Upon arriving at their gates, the ladies at Sisters Incorporated greeted us with warm embraces and welcomed us inside their office. We sat and chatted for so long that we lost track of time, with topics of conversation ranging from details of the amazing work that they do at bettering the wellbeing of the women in the community, to how our values align with one another’s, and the different ways in which any individual can help out.
We encourage our readers to visit Sisters Incorporated’s website, and support them in any way possible. Their staff is eager to arrange a meeting with any potential donors, educate and inform you on what they do, or even embrace you and offer assistance if you ever find yourself needing help.
They offer holistic care, meaning that their objective is to help the individual heal in every way that they may need healing. This means that they have an in-house social worker to help the women and children overcome the trauma and abuse of their past. With a staff of over fourteen members, and an equally sized group of volunteers, their personnel include two house mothers who rotate shifts in order to have someone on duty 24/7, in the event that any woman may need immediate assistance. They also employ a cook who prepares warm meals for the ladies and their children every day, three times a day. More importantly, they have an amazing workforce that is dedicated to teaching the ladies practical skills that they can make use of in future as a means to generate an income for themselves, such as sowing, beading, and crafts.
Sisters Incorporated would not be able to do the extraordinary work that they do alone. Each person plays a vital role in the success of Sisters Incorporated and their ability to provide aid to those in need. Every member of their staff, every volunteer, every woman that walks through the gates seeking assistance, and every donor, contributes to the mechanism that is Sisters Incorporated. They are a true embodiment of the philosophy of Ubuntu. In their story, and even in efforts shown by the community and beyond, lies every factor that Nelson Mandela associated with the meaning of Ubuntu: Helpfulness, sharing, respect, care, trust, and unselfishness.
According to the South African philosophy, a person who behaves in these ways has Ubuntu, and therefore they are a full person.
Ubuntu is the natural propensity of the human to establish connections and build upon them. In South Africa, it is symbolic of our ability to unite with one another in striving towards a common good, and it encourages us toward selfless acts. Ubuntu is the word for humanity in the native Nguni languages of South Africa, and humanity is a quality we owe to each other.
Learn more about the inspirational work being done at Sisters Incorporated or contact their unsung heroes to make a donation by visiting their website.
Read more on the importance of charity and selflessness in a similar blog, or visit our Knowledge Centre to access our exclusive blogs, newsposts, and educational webinars.
Rwanda – Travel Guide
Facts to assist you while travelling to Rwanda.
Rwandan population
Official Language(s)
Currency
Office Hours
Weekend
Time Zone
Calling Code
Tipping
Embassies
Government
Climate
Transport
Economy
Hospitality
Greetings
Money
Transportation
Safety
Culture
Shops
If you thought this was informative and would like to read more interesting articles and blogs, please click here.
Written by Saudika Hendricks
Edited by Eloise Williams
Why Cape Town is like Southern California on Steroids!
For travellers, Cape Town isn’t only the best city in Africa – but it also beat out Middle Eastern cities!
The Mother City received some much-needed love from Travel + Leisure for their World’s Best Awards by taking the top crown on the continent. It won against the likes of Jerusalem, Marrakesh, Beirut and even Dubai, with one respondent from the survey calling Cape Town “Southern California on steroids!”
But the city doesn’t only just encapsulates the spirit of this well-known stretch of US coastline – Cape Town is an all-in-one city with a wide-ranging appeal that attracts foodies, cultural enthusiasts, urbanites and even nature lovers.
So much so, that it can easily stand in for other spots around the world besides Southern California – join us on this global tour that can all be done in just one place!
Eat like You’re in London
When you think of foodie cities in the world, the sprawling streets of London is definitely high up on the list. While it’s not necessarily the traditional English cuisine that people flock to its restaurants for, it’s the fusions of a world of cultures that have become entrenched in the fabric of the city – the curry scents drifting through the streets, European cuisine made by world-famous chefs and even the classic fish-and-chips rolled up in newspapers.
Well in Cape Town you’ll find this and more – our Cape Malaysian cuisine is an important part of the city’s culture and just a quick walk down Long and Kloof Street will let you travel the world just through food. We also have one of the best restaurants in the world – FYN – and for those with lighter wallets can always head to Hout Bay for classic fish-and-chips while indulging in the sea air.
Preserved Heritage like Singapore
In a modern city like Singapore, you might not really think of historical cultural sites surviving the onslaught of new skyscrapers and architectural marvels taking over the skyline. But the city-state actually has a very solid conservation plan when it comes to renovating and up-keeping their historical buildings, especially in places like Joo Chiat which became Singapore’s first heritage town as a traditional Peranakan cultural enclave.
Cape Town has similar cultural sites and architectural heritage that’s fighting for conservation – specifically our colourful Bo-Kaap suburb. The area recently won conservation status to protect its streets and homes from developers, retaining the Muslim community’s history and identity for the benefit of the whole city.
San Francisco-style Urban Living
San Francisco is one of the most picturesque cities in the world – and with that comes a laid-back lifestyle that’s actually quite active for its urban surroundings. Young professionals and creatives flock from all over to take part in its vibrancy, very much like a city of our own.
The Mother City has been compared to this US one numerous times, especially because you don’t even have to travel outside the city to take a hike in nature – all thanks to the iconic Table Mountain. When the sun glints early in the morning on the fog that can descend without notice on its buildings, you might do a double take to not confuse it with San Francisco. Another feature the two cities share is that both have a world-famous prison island – Alcatraz for the US and Robben Island for SA.
Wine it up like Bordeaux
France’s Bordeaux region is probably one of the most well-known wine regions in the world – producing some of the biggest award-winners and most expensive cultivars for those with a refined nose. Not only is the wine exquisite, but its vineyards and tasting rooms drip in old-school winemaking charm, creating unforgettable wine experiences.
But you don’t have to be a millionaire to enjoy amazing wine – or even travel far into the countryside. Cape Town obviously has not only some of the best wine in South Africa, but also some of the oldest, and wine farm stalwarts like Groot Constantia have even produced wine favoured by world history icons like Napoleon Bonaparte, Frederick the Great and Louis Phillipe.
Beaches that Rival that of Ipanema
Few beaches in Brazil are as famous as Rio de Janeiro’s Ipanema Beach, hugely popular for sunbathing, surfing and watching the sun set over the blue horizon. But there’s more to the beach than its sandy beauty – high-end restaurants and bars line the beachfront, luring in those looking for the perfect sundowner.
But you don’t have to travel to Brazil for this kind of beach experience – Cape Town’s beaches have consistently ranked in the top lists around the world. Some are less popular offering quiet escapes from the big summer crowds, while others have a vibey party atmosphere spurred on by long days on the Camps Bay beach before heading into the cocktail haven of its beachfront road. Ipanema who?
Berlin’s Art Scene Rediscovered in Cape Town
It all started with the fall of the wall – since then artists from around the world have flocked to the multicultural landscape of Germany’s Berlin where they are welcomed with open arms. Hundreds of galleries, famous international artists and long stretches of street art have turned the city into a major art hub.
But Cape Town is hot on its heels – First Thursdays have put a major spotlight on the city’s many art galleries making it accessible to all, and since the opening of the Zeits MOCAA contemporary art museum African works have found another foothold not just in the city but in the world. And when it comes to street art, just take a tour through Woodstock and Salt River where not only locals have unleashed their creativity but international artists as well.
To read more interesting blogs like these, please click on the link below:
The Republic of Congo – Travel Guide
Facts to assist you while travelling to the Republic of Congo.
Population of Congo
Official Language(s)
Currency
Office Hours
Weekend
Time Zone
Calling Code
Tipping
Embassies
Government
Climate
Transport
Economy
Hospitality
Greetings
Money
Transportation
Safety
Culture
Shops
If you thought this was informative and would like to read more interesting articles and blogs, please click here.
Written by Saudika Hendricks
Edited by Eloise Williams