The Khanyisa Project
‘Rediscovering Ubuntu’
‘Rediscovering Ubuntu’
An exciting new development within the Khuphuka Projects youth programme has been the development of the Khanyisa project (Khanyisa literally means ‘to enlighten’ in isiZulu).
Khanyisa is a project which focuses on the young men within the communities we work in. Traditionally the most difficult group to work with and achieve lasting behavioural change, young men are often written off by their communities and as a result feel alienated. The Khanyisa Project works from the assumption that young men, given the opportunity, can and will play an active and positive role within their community.
Khanyisa facilitates 3 day wilderness workshops with groups of young men in partnership with KZN Wildlife. Participants camp, sleep in caves and hike in the Drakensberg mountains of KwaZulu-Natal. The focus of the workshops is Ubuntu, the African concept of interdependence- that we can only be human in relation to others, and that through knowing this deeply it becomes natural to care for and be of service to others. The young men are encouraged to explore Ubuntu and question whether it is present in themselves and/or their community, and also how to rediscover it for themselves and their community. Using Ubuntu as a core theme, the leaders facilitate exercises which explore subjects such as inequality, gender violence and HIV and AIDS. The young men are encouraged to personally and as a group reflect upon what true courage is and what it means to be a man in this rapidly changing world, each man making a ‘commitment to change’ at the end of the workshop which is then reviewed at a subsequent workshop.
The workshops are having a deep and visible effect upon the young men who are participating. Holding the workshops within the dramatic natural beauty of the Drakensberg mountains leads to sustained energy to undertake the personal work required of the men, and the outdoor activities builds strong trust within the group extremely rapidly.
We believe that this is very important work that should be developed and offered widely. We hope to work in partnership with other South African NGO’s to offer these workshops to young men from other parts of the country, including more urban areas, and to expand this positive movement of Ubuntu which is leading to significant positive behavioural change.
Below is a selection of comments made by some Khanyisa Project participants:
The Khuphuka Project would like to thank KZN wildlife and in particular James Mthembu for their support with the Khanyisa Project.
Khanyisa is a project which focuses on the young men within the communities we work in. Traditionally the most difficult group to work with and achieve lasting behavioural change, young men are often written off by their communities and as a result feel alienated. The Khanyisa Project works from the assumption that young men, given the opportunity, can and will play an active and positive role within their community.
Khanyisa facilitates 3 day wilderness workshops with groups of young men in partnership with KZN Wildlife. Participants camp, sleep in caves and hike in the Drakensberg mountains of KwaZulu-Natal. The focus of the workshops is Ubuntu, the African concept of interdependence- that we can only be human in relation to others, and that through knowing this deeply it becomes natural to care for and be of service to others. The young men are encouraged to explore Ubuntu and question whether it is present in themselves and/or their community, and also how to rediscover it for themselves and their community. Using Ubuntu as a core theme, the leaders facilitate exercises which explore subjects such as inequality, gender violence and HIV and AIDS. The young men are encouraged to personally and as a group reflect upon what true courage is and what it means to be a man in this rapidly changing world, each man making a ‘commitment to change’ at the end of the workshop which is then reviewed at a subsequent workshop.
The workshops are having a deep and visible effect upon the young men who are participating. Holding the workshops within the dramatic natural beauty of the Drakensberg mountains leads to sustained energy to undertake the personal work required of the men, and the outdoor activities builds strong trust within the group extremely rapidly.
We believe that this is very important work that should be developed and offered widely. We hope to work in partnership with other South African NGO’s to offer these workshops to young men from other parts of the country, including more urban areas, and to expand this positive movement of Ubuntu which is leading to significant positive behavioural change.
Below is a selection of comments made by some Khanyisa Project participants:
‘I have learned that you have to be able to communicate with others and to be careful about what you do in life’
‘I have learnt about the concept Ubuntu, to be more respectful towards women and also about HIV/AIDS.’
‘I am going to have trust and belief in myself and I am going to find out my HIV status’
‘I want to encourage my family and my friends to practice Ubuntu and to know their HIV status’
‘I want to encourage and promote Ubuntu to friends, families & my community, to help each other and care for each other , I also wish to support the youth of my area to look at life in a different way and positive way’
‘I wish to have one partner and be faithful to her, and I want to protect her and other women in my community’
‘I want to help the youth in my community to stop using drugs’
‘I will practise Ubuntu and make sure that I use what I learned in this workshop’
‘I want to take responsibility for my life’
‘I am going to respect other people and help them when they are in trouble’
‘I have to start by having Ubuntu in myself first’
‘What I would like to say about this workshop is that I hope we can carry on and keep the team spirit that we have developed and take it seriously so that the community that we are living in can get help’
‘I have learnt about the concept Ubuntu, to be more respectful towards women and also about HIV/AIDS.’
‘I am going to have trust and belief in myself and I am going to find out my HIV status’
‘I want to encourage my family and my friends to practice Ubuntu and to know their HIV status’
‘I want to encourage and promote Ubuntu to friends, families & my community, to help each other and care for each other , I also wish to support the youth of my area to look at life in a different way and positive way’
‘I wish to have one partner and be faithful to her, and I want to protect her and other women in my community’
‘I want to help the youth in my community to stop using drugs’
‘I will practise Ubuntu and make sure that I use what I learned in this workshop’
‘I want to take responsibility for my life’
‘I am going to respect other people and help them when they are in trouble’
‘I have to start by having Ubuntu in myself first’
‘What I would like to say about this workshop is that I hope we can carry on and keep the team spirit that we have developed and take it seriously so that the community that we are living in can get help’
The Khuphuka Project would like to thank KZN wildlife and in particular James Mthembu for their support with the Khanyisa Project.