Displaying the spirit of Ubuntu in Southern Africa

Majority of the countries in Southern Africa heavily rely on farming and service industries centered on tourism. As a result, restrictions on the movement of goods and travel bans brought about big negative impacts upon the economy of those countries. Furthermore, the livelihoods of the socially vulnerable group of people came to be at risk, as the number of unemployed people sharply rose due to lockdowns, stay-at-home orders, and travel restrictions.

Last year, the fatality rate of COVID-19 was not as high as that in other continents, but since January of this year, betacoronavirus which is more contagious has rapidly spread, bringing the fatality rate of COVID-19 in Southern Africa above the world’s average. However, the biggest problem is that Africa is not well equipped with health care systems, which will lead to a lot of casualties.

In this situation, the Intl. WeLoveU Foundation chapters in Southern Africa displayed the spirit of Ubuntu. Ubuntu is a Bantu word meaning, “I am because you are.” The chapters supported vulnerable groups to COVID-19 in the Rep. of South Africa, Botswana, and Malawi, regarding “we” as more important than “I.”

Donating goods to the Department of Social Development for 1,000 households in the Rep. of South Africa

On February 4, the members of the WeLoveU in the Rep. of South Africa visited the Department of Social Development and donated 5,000 face masks and groceries, including corn flour and canned beans and fish, for helping out 1,000 households vulnerable to COVID-19. The donation ceremony was held with applause and laughter in the presence of the Deputy Director and officials from the Department of Social Development of the Rep. of South Africa.

Actually, the WeLoveU had already exchanged greetings with the officials from the Department of Social Development on December 11 of last year. That day, all the organizations that made donations in partnership with the Department of Social Development gathered together and made a presentation on their activities over the past one year, and the WeLoveU too was invited to that meeting. About 100 people were present, including the Minister of Social Development, executive committee members of each state, thirty companies, and NGOs. On that day, the WeLoveU promised to donate goods for the vulnerable to COVID-19, establishing a partnership with the Department of Social Development.

The WeLoveU kept its promise on the day of the donation ceremony. The Deputy Director Peter Netshipale expressed his gratitude for the donation and said, “We hope this will be the start of our constant partnership with the WeLoveU.”

Supporting vulnerable groups to COVID-19 through the Ministries of Health and Wellness in Botswana and Malawi

On February 12, the WeLoveU members in Pretoria, Rep. of South Africa, and Gaborone, Botswana, donated 5,000 face masks and groceries to each Ministry of Health and Wellness for helping out 100 households vulnerable to COVID-19. The donated groceries such as corn flour, sugar, cooking oil, and canned beans, fish, and ham are essential in their daily diet. Each Minister of Health and Wellness participated in the event and supported the WeLoveU’s activities.

About one month later, on March 15, the WeLoveU members in Lilongwe, Malawi, helped the vulnerable to COVID-19. They donated 5,000 face masks and groceries to the Ministry of Health for helping out 200 households in Malawi. Just like the chapters of the Rep. of South Africa and Botswana, the groceries included a basic food ingredient—corn flour—and salt and beans instead of canned food. The donation ceremony was held in the presence of Minister Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda along with Vice Minister and officials from the Ministry of Health. Malawi MBC TV and radio gathered news material on the scene and made a vivid report on it.

People who live in the same region know best about the difficulties of their neighbors. This is why people near unfortunate neighbors need to share love with them. Especially, in this age when individualism is prevalent, the saying, “When we share joy with others, the joy is doubled, and when we share sorrow, the sorrow is halved,” sometimes gets overshadowed. However, once we come to be considerate of other people, we will easily realize that the saying makes a lot of sense; because we can gain immense strength just by being considerate of others. In this age, we need the spirit of Ubuntu. The WeLoveU members’ activities in Southern Africa seem more meaningful as they volunteer to lessen the pains of their neighbors.