What is UBUNTU, and why is it relevant to bullying?
Archbishop Desmond Tutu defines UBUNTU as:
"A person with Ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, based from a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed."
The philosophy of UBUNTU places a very high value on human life and promotes mutual understanding rather than punishment, reconciliation rather than estrangement, moving away from confrontation, but rather embracing mediation.
Think of it this way: My pain, is your pain, your wealth is my wealth. Your dignity is dependant upon my dignity and vice versa.
UBUNTU is a core value, around which a solid structure of morals can be built. When we instill this as a core value within children, bullying will ultimately disappear. For it takes one spark to ignite a fire.
This is why UBUNTU is important and relevant to bullying and ultimately eradicating bullying, because healing starts from within. You don't just put a bandage over a wound without examining it first, hoping it merely goes away.
Advocacy work and education in the field of bullying is needed - learners, parents, teaching and non teaching staff need to know what bullying is, why children bully and how to react to a bullying situation and also how to create positive situations and how to inspire children to want to live up to the value of UBUNTU.
My wish, my dream and my hope is that every child has a happy learning experience. I hope that, through my work, children feel safe at school, that no child feels marginalised at school, albeit victim, bully or bystander, for no child deserves that. A kind word goes much farther than a harsh word.
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