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Welcome to e-buntu
Dear Friend of Ubuntu,
Welcome to e-buntu, Ubuntu Education Fund's quarterly e-newsletter!
Each e-buntu will introduce you to members of our community in the
townships of Port Elizabeth, South Africa. You will also find ways for
you to live the "spirit of ubuntu", support Ubuntu Education Fund's
work, learn more about our community, and stay connected to Ubuntu's
work from wherever you live. If you have suggestions, don't hesitate to
reply to this e-mail.
Thank you for growing with us.
Sincerely,
The Ubuntu Education Fund Team
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Zethu and Fezeka Share Stage with President Clinton
Click here to watch their speech.
Like too many South African children, Zethu Ngceza and her two
younger siblings lost both parents to AIDS. Taken in by their aunt, the
nine family members occupied a cardboard shack with refuse bags acting
as a roof. When her aunt moved to Johannesburg in search of work, then
11-year-old Zethu was left to care for her siblings alone, with no
income or adult support.
Inspired by their eloquence and gripping story of survival, the
Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) invited 16-year-old Zethu Ngceza and
her Ubuntu Education Fund Case Manager Fezeka Mzalazala to the United
States to speak at the CGI semi-annual meeting on April 19th in New
York. The invite came as a result of a contribution by Ubuntu donors
Vincent and Ann Mai, who made a CGI commitment to fund the expansion of
our services for orphans and vulnerable children.
Fezeka helped Zethu's family access a social grant - navigating the
bureaucratic channels to ensure the family had a sustainable income.
She then found them a place to stay, offered emotional support and
counseling and enrolled them in school. Through her own hard work and
with the support of Fezeka and Ubuntu Education Fund, Zethu and her
siblings are now enrolled in school and doing well.
The CGI meeting hosted over 450 heads of state, CEO's and other
philanthropists. In recognition of Ubuntu Education Fund's unique
community based approach to some of Africa's seemingly insurmountable
problems, Zethu and Fezeka shared the stage with President Clinton and
gave a brief presentation about Ubuntu and how their programs have
helped families like Zethu's survive. As part of her talk, Zethu made
her own commitment to return to Port Elizabeth and start a support
group at her school for young girls orphaned by HIV/AIDS. This
commitment was signed on stage with President Clinton.
Fezeka and Zethu interview each other about the experience:
Fezeka: Okay, Zethu, tell me why you went to America to meet Bill Clinton.
Zethu: I was invited by the CGI because Mr.
Vincent Mai from South Africa made a commitment that he will help
Ubuntu Education Fund work with vulnerable children. They wanted
feedback about how this work has affected young people who have
received help from Ubuntu. So I was there for making feedback of the
ways me and my family have been helped by Ubuntu Education Fund. You
were also invited. What did you want to tell the people at the Clinton
Global Initiative meeting?
Fezeka: What I wanted to do is give an overview of
what we are doing as Ubuntu in South Africa. From a personal point of
view I wanted to just tell them about myself. Before Ubuntu, you know,
I was not sure of exactly what I wanted to do. Being involved in this
kind of work, that's when I realize that's something that I wanted to
do - be a case manager and help so many families. By having this
opportunity it showed me what I really want. It showed me my dream when
I never even knew before that this was my dream. Tell me more about the
commitment you made when you were on stage with President Clinton?
Zethu: Firstly, I am an orphan. But before I was
an orphan I didn't know how that felt. Now that I am an orphan I've
experienced so many things, especially because I've also had to take
care of my brother and sister and it put me through a lot having to be
like a parent. Sometimes you feel badly and you need people - you need
to share your experience. So, I thought that I would also like to give
an opportunity for other orphans to be able to share their feelings. So
I had the idea of starting my own support group for other orphan girls
like myself. Just because I am an orphan doesn't mean I can't be part
of making a difference, and I think that my commitment is the best
thing that I can do in order to change the world.
And the group has already started with five sessions. We are
getting together and just talking. We share our feelings about things
like discrimination toward orphans. We share how to fight the stigma.
We also have a professional counselor from Ubuntu who helps all of us.
It's just the best experience.
I've learned a lot from this whole experience. Firstly, you should
not hurry any experience and take things step by step. What is so cool
is that I spoke with the big guy, Bill Clinton, and I'm just me, Zethu
from Port Elizabeth. But at the same time I could do it and I'm good
and brave. The experience made me realize how strong I am and how
strong my brother and sister are. It was the best experience. A
lifetime experience.
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Donate
Click here to support Ubuntu
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Did you know?
The Ubuntu Centre, set to open in 2009, will use a 'green design'.
Using natural and local materials, photovoltaic panels for solar
energy, passive heating and cooling, a rooftop vegetable garden with
grey water, and outdoor green spaces will provide the sustainable,
efficient and people-friendly space the community deserves.
Groundbreaking is scheduled for September.
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Ubuntu Action
This
month, we challenge you to tell 5 of your friends about Ubuntu
Education Fund. If they are interested in learning more, send them to
our website.
This commitment will help us to expand our network and, in turn, ensure
that our services continue to reach the most vulnerable children in
Port Elizabeth. When you complete the challenge, let us know about the
response you received.
Ubuntu Action Highlight:
On a little island off the coast of Maine, mother and daughter
baking duo, Anna and Karen Fernald spent the summer baking blueberry
pies for Ubuntu. They recruited the children of Little Cranberry Island
to sell over 200 pies and raised $2000 for Ubuntu Education Fund.
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Learn isiXhosa
isiXhosa is the language spoken in our community. Below are phrases used by our health team:
Mpilo-lwazi:
Health - knowledge
Thatu' lwazi:
To gain knowledge
Sisonke kulomlo:
Together in the struggle
Phaphama:
Awaken yourself
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Ubuntu Education Fund
32 Broadway
Suite 414
New York, NY 10004
USA
    646-827-1190
PO Box 14526
Sidwell, 6001
Port Elizabeth, South Africa
041-459-0627
Friends of Ubuntu Education Fund, UK
c/o Freeplay Foundation
56-58 Conduit Street
London W1S 2YZ, UK
info@ubuntufund.org
www.ubuntufund.org
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Spread the Word
Click here
to send this e-buntu to a friend.
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