UBUNTU

Ubuntu is a thought process defined by the phrase “I am a person because of other people.” This idea has been the focus of our day as we listened to the CEO of the Amy Biehl Foundation speak and then traveled to townships and saw the work of the foundation first hand. The story of Amy Biehl is the most powerful story of Ubuntu. Amy was an American who was living in Cape Town and helping the people prepared for their first multi-racial election in many years. Amy saw the injustice that was happening and did everything she could to fight the segregation. Sadly, Amy was killed in a riot by 4 men who stoned and stabbed her. She was killed by men who thought she was trying to keep them down, but in fact she was a person trying to help them.

Her killers were sentenced to 18 years in prison but when the government changed hands a new program was developed called the TRC, the Truth Reconciliation Commission. The TRC offered the killers an opportunity to admit their wrong and be released early because they understood the hurt they had caused. The Biehl family showed incredible strength and forgave the killers of their daughter, explaining that it was not the men that killed their daughter but the apartheid. Amy’s parents became extremely involved in the townships in South Africa and carried on Amy’s work. The Amy Biehl Foundation was created in order to provide the children of townships with education and empowerment programs. This Foundation is where the children in the townships receive proper education in all kinds of activities. They learn to dance, sing, play musical instruments, and sports. These activities help the children develop a focus and meaning in their lives. Now they have something to live for.

Today we had the opportunity to see the children dancing and playing instruments. The joy on their faces was overwhelming for me. Visiting the foundation program today has been my very favorite experience so far on this trip. Seeing the poverty in the townships and then the delight of the children in the program filled me with Ubuntu. Living for others it what it really is all about. Amy’s parents clearly live their lives with Ubuntu, by putting others before themselves. Not only did they forgive Amy’s killers but also they started a program to help young people have better lives. It seems that so much good has come from the terrible killing of Amy Biehl.

I was very moved by my experience today because of the incredible story of Amy and the work of the foundation. It seems to me that Ubuntu is really the essence of humanity. Taking care of others and the community around you is the most rewarding thing. Kevin outlined some ways for us to adopt the mindset of Ubuntu with the acrostic WATCH. W stands for our words, we should watch what we say to others and make sure that our words build others up instead of tearing them down. A stands for attitude, we should watch our attitude and make sure that we have a positive outlook on life and experiences. T stands for your thoughts, we must watch our mindsets and make sure we remember that each of us can make a difference in the world. C stands for company, we need to watch our company and make sure that we are surrounding ourselves with people who encourage us. Lastly, H stands for heart, we need to watch our hearts and cultivate them to be someone that wants to help others. After hearing Kevin’s words and experiencing the children in townships I am motivated to help these people. This purpose makes me even more excited for Service Week!

-- Catherine Ellis