The South African Ubuntu Foundation was established by Managing Director Kevin Chaplin, previous Provincial Manager of FNB Western Cape.
The Patron is Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Board members are Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Singer & Business Women; Taswell Papier, World Lawyer of the year & Senior Partner of Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs Attorneys; Hilda Ndude, Member of Parliament and MD of Sithaba Holdings & Chairperson of numerous Boards; Prof Fatima Abrahams, University of Western Cape & Chairperson of numerous Boards, Vernon Kirsten, MD Reserve Hotels and Nilly Baruch, Chairperson of ORT and previous Chair of Union of Jewish Women.
The Vision
The Foundation's vision for the new South Africa and its regional neighbours is a world in which all people: embrace peace, one another's equality; embody the essence and spirit of Ubuntu in their work, family, and community lives; are encouraged and inspired to use their inherent abilities to the fullest, and find their passion for, participate and contribute fully in, and benefit fairly from South Africa’s growing prosperity.
The uplifting mission is to promote and foster a truly prosperous and harmonious rainbow nation in which all people:
- Openly transcend, bridge, and collaborate across the still-pervasive racial, cultural, political, economic and religious barriers and divisions of the past.
- Fully embrace the opportunities available to them to elevate and express their full intellectual, social, economic, and spiritual potential.
- Creatively develop, express and realize their entrepreneurial spirit, dreams and skills.
What is Ubuntu
The Cardinal spirit of Ubuntu is expressed in Xhosa as “Umntu ngumntu ngabanye abantu” in English as “people are people thru other people.” ”I am human because I belong to the human community and I view and treat others accordingly.” In fact it is an African word for a universal concept. Ubuntu:
- Is the potential for being human.
- Is to value the good of community above self interest.
- Is to strive to help people in the spirit of service.
- Is to show respect to others and to be honest and trustworthy.
- Ubuntu regards humanity as an integral part of the eco-systems that lead to a communal responsibility to sustain life.
- Ubuntu shares natural resources on a principle of equity among and between generations.
- Ubuntu is fair to all.
- Ubuntu is compassionate.
- Ubuntu is a collective respect for human dignity.
- Ubuntu refers to people.
- Ubuntu is one of the things that you recognize when you experience it.
