Workshop 4: Ubuntu Part 1:  From Me to We 

Note: Explain that we have a full session outside, so we won’t be doing some of our normal opening activities.

1. Opening Image: Awe & Wonder

2. Check-in 

3. Designated Photographer 

Do not run Be Here Now Exercise this week.

Note:

Ideally, set up the River Challenge before the workshop. This activity is best set-up outdoors, but a sports hall or large classroom can be used. For a video tutorial on how to set-up and guide the River Challenge, see: bertha.short.gy/river-challenge.

River Challenge Set-up

Arrange the space as follows:

1. Lay out ropes for the start-line and finish-line, spaced approximately 10 metres apart.
   Space out six sets of the following items along the start-line:

   • 1 Ping pong ball

   • 5-6 Mats 

   • 1 Spoon

   • 1 Blindfold
     
     

2. Place a container after the finish-line (to collect ping-pong balls and spoons).

Assemble the Ambassadors. Read the story and challenge rules.

Recap & Overview | 2 mins

Briefly reconnect the Ambassadors to their journey so far. Ask: "Who can remember what we explored together last week?"

Take a few quick responses.

Say: “Last week, we explored why knowing ourselves matters, and the different qualities and strengths each of us have to bring to the group.

Part 1: Introducing Ubuntu | 3 mins

"Today, we will explore something called 'Ubuntu'". 

Ask: "Has anyone heard of Ubuntu before?

"This philosophy comes from the Bantu people of Southern Africa. The Bantu people also live in many countries across the continent of Africa. 

"The Bantu people believe that we cannot survive without supporting one another. Just as we need support from others, they need our support, too. We also need to care for each other. When someone else is unhappy, we feel unhappy, too. When we care for others, we’re also caring for ourselves. Ubuntu means, “I am because we are. We are because I am.” We are going to practice Ubuntu today by exploring how we can depend on each other in different ways, and we are going to do that in the form of a game called, ‘The River Challenge!”

"But before that we are going to ask you to gather round for a little story."

The River Challenge Story | 2 mins

"Once upon a time, in the cold, desolate Lands of the North, lived six great animal clans. A clan is a large family or group with a strong connection to one another.

Life in the North was tough. In fact, it was only by practising Ubuntu and working together that the clans were able to survive the harsh conditions of their homeland.

Every winter, the six clans journeyed south and met at the Great River. The clans were great allies, and each carried with them a precious egg.

Legend has it that if the eggs were carried safely across the Great River to the warmer lands of the South, they would one day hatch into magnificent eagles.

But there was a problem.

The river's icy waters were deadly. Over many years, however, the clans had learned how to cross safely using a series of stepping stones.

Each of you now belongs to one of these six clans.

You have arrived at the banks of the Great River, just as your clans have done every winter before you. Once again, you must work together to cross the river and get your precious egg safely to the other side..."

The River Challenge Rules 

Notes on the rules: In order to complete the River Challenge, each clan needs to work together as one. But the Ambassadors must come to this realisation themselves by practising Ubuntu. When reading the rules or answering questions, do NOT call the clans teams or suggest they are competing. If the Ambassadors realise that all six clans can unite and begin working together, they’ve mastered this challenge!

Complex or Simple

Decide before the activity if the Ambassadors will use complex or simpler relationships in their clans. Each animal below has an advantage and disadvantage. One animal’s advantage mitigates the effects of another animal’s disadvantage, meaning that the clans must work together to support one another.

Option 1: Complex Relationships
Good for Ambassadors ready to explore more complex strategies

Use these animals:

Mole

Advantage: Can use hands and carry the egg

Disadvantage: Cannot see by day (is blindfolded)

Heron

Advantage: Can use hands (as a beak) and carry the egg

Disadvantage: Has to stand and hop on one leg

Horse

Advantage: Other players can lean on the horse for stability (especially useful for the Mole and Heron)

Disadvantage: Cannot use hands

Badger

Advantage: Can use hands

Disadvantage: Cannot carry the egg

Owl

Advantage: Can rescue one character who falls into the river by flapping over to them with their wings (saving the animal from having to return to the start-line)

Disadvantage: Cannot use hands

Option 2: Simpler Relationships

Good for Ambassadors who benefit from exploring simpler strategies

Use these animals with one Ambassador as the Mole and the rest as Badgers:

Mole

Advantage: Can use hands and carry the egg

Disadvantage: Cannot see by day (is blindfolded)

Badger

Advantage: Can use hands

Disadvantage: Cannot carry the egg

https://www.canva.com/design/DAHSRUSZwoc/65cSgCOBCYJF2S_cDq0HuQ/edit 

Welcome to the River Challenge | 6 mins

1. In a minute you are all going to be split into clans. The clans must safely carry their precious eggs across the frozen river.

2. The start-line and finish-line are the two banks of the Great River. 

3. The clans must cross the river whilst following these additional rules:

• No-one can touch the freezing river. Each clan has five or six stepping stones (tiles) that they can put down and stand on to safely cross the river.

• Stones, once placed down, cannot be slid or moved along. They can only be put down or picked up.

• The egg must be carried on a spoon. It cannot be touched or dropped.
  
  

4. If anyone:

5. • Touches the river with any part of their body

   • Kicks or slides their stones along

   • Touches or drops their egg

   • Steals resources from another clan

   • Does not take care of themselves or others then their whole clan will be sent back to the riverbank (start-line).

Organising the Clans | 5 mins

1. Split the Ambassadors into six clans of five, assuming you have a full group.

2. Ask each clan to stand by their stepping stones. Each clan should have two fewer stepping stones than the number of people in the group. Ideally, have at least five Ambassadors in each clan.

3. Hand out the animal role sheets.

4. Give each clan their equipment, including the spoon, egg and blindfold for the Mole.

5. Ask the Ambassadors to choose their animal roles. Each person should choose a different animal, and at least one Ambassador must be able to carry the egg.

6. Give the clans two minutes to discuss their tactics.

7. Explain that the challenge isn't easy and they may feel frustrated at times. Working together is part of the challenge!

8. Tell them they have just seven minutes to cross the river.

Run the Challenge | 10 mins

Run the challenge. It’s important that you carefully supervise the activity, ensuring that the clans follow the rules and are sent back to the start-line when they break them. 

Maintain tension with a seven-minute countdown. Ramp up the energy towards the end by reducing time left, if needed. Say “The ice is cracking! You now only have X minutes left to cross!

If useful, pause the game part-way and check-in with the Ambassadors on their strategy, but be careful not to undermine the tension of the challenge.

End the river crossing after seven minutes, (if you have more time feel free to slightly increase the time).

Ask reflective questions to embed what they have just experienced. With the group in a circle, recap on the meaning of Ubuntu (see Wider Context). 

Reflection questions:

• THE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER: “Did you put Ubuntu into action today? Could you have survived crossing the river without the support of each other? Why/How?”

If the Ambassadors didn’t realise that all six clans could work together, ask “All the clans in the story are allies and practice Ubuntu. What would have changed if all your clans had worked together to cross the river?” 

Share: “When we work in groups, we assume we need to compete with other groups. But just like Ubuntu tells us, we can choose to take care of others as well as ourselves, even when people belong to a different group than us. When we do this, everyone benefits, including us.”

• THE POWER OF DIFFERENCE: “How did your different animal skills enable you to support one another? What happened when someone as an animal couldn’t do something?”
  
  

• TEAM AGREEMENT: “Looking back at  your team agreement and what you have learned about Ubuntu (point to where it is on the wall or hold it up), is there anything you would like to add or even take out, to reflect what you have learned? Do you feel your team agreement captures the philosophy of Ubuntu?”
  
  

• WE ARE ONE WITH NATURE: “Do you believe Ubuntu works when we think about nature and our planet?”

The 3-2-1 Reflection is split into two parts. If you have enough time, complete both. If not, choose Part 1 or Part 2, based on what you feel will best serve the needs of your group.

Part 1: Quiet Reflection | 4 mins

Invite everyone to find a comfortable position and quietly open their Storybooks.

Explain: “I'd like us to spend the next 3–4 minutes quietly thinking about the following questions. Feel free to write or draw your answers in your Storybook. There are no right or wrong answers.”

SLIDE: Display the three questions on the screen:

1. ENJOYED: “What did you enjoy most about this session?”

2. TAKE AWAY: “What are you taking from today that you will practise or bring into your everyday life?”

3. CELEBRATE: “Celebrate yourself. What are you celebrating and why?”

4. Explain why celebrating ourselves is important and why we don’t do it enough.

Part 2: Sharing Together | 4 mins

If you have already completed Part 1: Invite a few Ambassadors to share one or two of their reflections. If you are going straight to Part 2: Display the slide with the three reflection questions.

Remind the Ambassadors why reflection is important and give them a quiet moment to think about their answers. Then invite a few Ambassadors to share one or two of their reflections.

You can then ask:

• Did anything come up that surprised you?

• What is one small action you are going to take away this week?

Encourage listening without judgement and celebrate each contribution. If time allows, invite the Ambassadors to record any final reflections in their Storybooks before moving into the Invitation and Check-Out.

How to Set-up and Guide the River Challenge

For a video tutorial on how to set-up and guide the River Challenge, see: bertha.short.gy/river-challenge.

The Meaning of Ubuntu

Ubuntu is not exclusively South African, but it is a philosophy deeply rooted in Southern African cultures and languages. It translates to“I am because we are. We are because I am.”

It shows us that all living beings are interdependent. No single being can thrive separately. No person can survive without community; and no community can survive without nature. To care for ourselves, we must care for others and our planet. Ubuntu teaches that our wellbeing is part of each other's wellbeing. We flourish together, not alone. When we care for others, we are also caring for ourselves, because we are all connected.

 The word ubuntu is particularly associated with the Nguni languages, including isiXhosa and isiZulu, while closely related words and concepts occur in other Bantu languages. UNESCO describes Ubuntu/botho as a concept found across Bantu language communities and associated with qualities including compassion, generosity, empathy, understanding, forgiveness and sharing. 

At its heart is the Nguni expression “Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu”, commonly translated as “a person is a person through other people”. It expresses the idea that a person develops and realises their humanity through relationships with other people. 

In South Africa, Ubuntu has particular historical, cultural and political significance.

So, while Ubuntu should not be described as exclusively South African, it can accurately be described as a Southern African philosophy with particularly deep significance in South Africa. At its simplest, it expresses the understanding that our humanity is bound up with the humanity of others.

Sources:

1. UNESCO: I am because you are: (https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/i-am-because-you-are-0)

2. South African Department of Justice: National Unity and Reconciliation, 1993 Interim Constitution (https://www.justice.gov.za/trc/legal/interim.htm

For more details on Ubuntu, watch this short BBC video: bertha.short.gy/BBC-Ubuntu.