Madison Lobato
1/17/14
Sports: Apartheid/ Ubuntu at Play?
Today at the Ubuntu Sports Academy, the class learned that it is important not only to respect others, but to strive for success. Before going further, one must perceive what ubuntu actually is. Ubuntu is being kind to others and showing the best of one’s humanity. Before going into detail about the academy, the day began by going to Table Mountain which not all of the class went to considering that many of them were going to go on the hike up to the top of Table Mountain tomorrow anyways. The students who went, including myself, were there for an hour and the exploration of the mountain began. Photographs were taken all throughout the top of the mountain which all revealed spectacular viewpoints. Everyone who was on the mountain showed a sense of ubuntu by helping each other take photographs and generally just being kind to one another. Before getting to the sports academy however, a stop was made at a mall in which the students were allowed to spend 100 rand to obtain a lunch which in a sense was ubuntu because Dr. Layne gave everyone an equal amount of money because one of our classmates has an allergy towards gluten. Therefore, she was being kind to that one classmate was well as the rest of us because she was providing for our lunch.
It did not appear that the Apartheid had played a role in today’s activities at the Ubuntu Sports Academy and it seemed as though everyone was getting along with each other and race was not a concern whatsoever. The only instance of the Apartheid that could have possibly lingered is the socio-economic status of many of the children who were about to participate in the Academy’s activities. A sense of Ubuntu was found all throughout the activities that were conducted today at the Ubuntu Sports Academy, which was located in Ocean View. Casey Price, the man running the academy was a very energetic individual who had a lot to offer to the children considering that 95% of the donations that were made to the academy through many fundraisers went towards the children’s’ education. This was important because these children deserve a better education than what they might be given at a regular public school within their township. The conditions within the public schools are awful and the teachers there really do not seem to want to facilitate the learning of their students which is heart-breaking. Casey showed a tremendous sense of ubuntu as well as the rest of the staff that worked with him which truly warmed my heart. Knowing that there are people like them in the world give me a strong hope for humanity and it is people like them that keep ubuntu alive and well.
There were two options for the day, either to recruit children into the program that Casey was running, or to help out at a local crèche. I decided to help the Ubuntu Sports Academy program and recruit children for the program who were not only talented in soccer, but also had the drive to better themselves in a profound way. All the children who participated in the program were looked after by every Elon student in the class. No child was left unattended. The children themselves were very rambunctious and did not seem to have much discipline at all, which may reflect upon the parenting of those children. What was important however was the fact that the children had fun while they were at the sports academy. I saw ubuntu everywhere I looked, whether it was Elon students playing around with the children and reassuring that they were doing a great job and facilitated their enthusiasm, or the children simply playing with each other and showing one another the kindness that they truly deserve.
At around 4pm when all the children had played multiple games of soccer, they were all given a lunch and no child was left without food. Both Professor Layne and Professor Curry both displayed an optimal level of ubuntu by supporting these kids as well as the program. The concept of ubuntu was seen in this sense as well considering that the children had all received lunch and some of the children were even sharing food with other children who did not participate in the program. Too many sandwiches were made for the children and therefore, some of the Elon students were able to have a second lunch as well. By the end of the time spent at the Academy, one of the staff by the name of Sean informed us of how well of a job we did as well as thank us for helping the Academy. He then turned around to the children and stated that this program was not simply another sports club, but something more than that. He stated that the kids could come on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 3pm in order to hone their skills and become better players as well as make friends with the other children. I firmly believe that everyone who participated today not only enjoyed themselves, but that we also learned from one another about what it means to be a good person and to help others. Ubuntu is certainly alive and well in South Africa.
Post from Twitter: @ElonSasa On January 17th, the class went to the Ubuntu Sports Academy and facilitated the understanding of ubuntu, to be kind and caring.