What makes a community feel like one big family? In this episode of Faithfully Explore! we travel to a lively African village marketplace to discover the meaning of Ubuntu. A beautiful philosophy from the Zulu and Xhosa languages that means “I am because we are.”

Laura guides children and families through stories, games, and imagination exercises that bring Ubuntu to life. Kids will hear how a group of children chose to share fruit instead of racing against each other, learn how communities in Southern Africa make decisions together under the shade of a tree, and discover how leaders like Nelson Mandela practiced Ubuntu through generosity and care for others.

Listeners are invited to join in by stretching their arms wide for an “Ubuntu hug,” breathing deeply as they imagine life in an African village, and drumming, dancing, and moving together as one. Through the Friendship Bridge, Laura connects Ubuntu with values in other faith traditions: Jesus’ teaching to “love your neighbor as yourself” in Christianity, and Buddhism’s compassion for all living beings.

To make these lessons practical, kids play a round of “Ubuntu or Not Ubuntu?” where they spot kindness and selfishness in everyday situations. Then comes the One Week of We Challenge, encouraging children to live Ubuntu by sharing, helping out, and practicing empathy each day. A printable chart at faithfullyexplore.com helps families track their Ubuntu moments and reflect together.

The Belief Backpack segment zips up the treasures of this episode:

• We are all connected: every kind act ripples through the community.
• Everyone matters: each person is precious and has something to contribute.
• Share and care: life is happier when we give generously and include others.

Finally, Laura shares an African folktale from the Democratic Republic of Congo, The Value of a Person. In this playful story, the parts of the body argue about who is most important until they discover that even the smallest, least-respected part has a vital role to play. The lesson? No one is useless. Every member of a community helps the whole body thrive.

With imagination, movement, and heart, this episode helps families understand that our best selves shine when we lift each other up. Together, we end with a promise: “I am, because we are.”

Picture yourself standing in a sunny village marketplace in Africa.

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You hear laughter and chatter all around.

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In this village, everyone knows

each other and helps one another.

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Almost like one big family.

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Do you know the secret ingredient that

makes this village so happy and kind?

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It's called Ubuntu.

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Have you heard that word, Ubuntu?

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It might sound like the name of

a new game, but it's actually a

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very important idea from Africa.

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Ubuntu means I am because we are.

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Hi friends.

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Welcome back to Faithfully Explore the

podcast where we journey through big

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ideas from different faiths and cultures.

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I'm your host, Laura.

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I'm so excited about today's adventure.

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Together we'll explore what

Ubuntu means and how you can

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practice it in your own life.

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Faithfully Explore! Intro:

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faithfully Explore!

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is the name.

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Learning together is our aim.

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Beliefs around the globe we'll track,

filling up our Belief Backpack.

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Laura: What is Ubuntu exactly?

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Ubuntu is a special word from the Zulu

and Xhosa languages of South Africa,

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and it's all about togetherness.

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It's sometimes translated as I

am because we are, or a person is

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a person through other persons.

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In other words, we need

each other to be who we are.

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Try saying Ubuntu with me on three.

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Ready?

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1, 2, 3.

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Ubuntu.

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Great job.

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Ubuntu reminds us that we are stronger

together like pieces of a puzzle make a

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beautiful picture when they come together.

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Let me tell you a story

that shows Ubuntu in action.

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Once a researcher visited a village

in Africa and invited children to play

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a game, he put a basket full of fruit

under a tree and said, whoever reaches

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the basket first gets all the fruit.

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Can you guess what happened

when he shouted go?

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All the kids grabbed each other's

hands and ran toward the tree.

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They all arrived at the same time, then

sat down and shared the fruit equally.

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The researcher was surprised any one

of those kids could have run ahead

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to win everything for themselves.

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So he asked, " why did you all

run together when one of you

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could have had all the treats?"

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A young girl answered simply, Ubuntu.

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How can one of us be happy

if all the others are sad?

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Take a moment to think about that.

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How can one of us be

happy if others are sad?

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That's Ubuntu in a nutshell.

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When we care about each other's

happiness, everyone wins.

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Ubuntu has its roots in southern Africa,

places like South Africa, Zimbabwe, and

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Mozambique, but its message is universal.

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People all around the world can practice

Ubuntu because it's really about being

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a good neighbor and a good friend.

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Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a famous

South African leader, described

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Ubuntu as the idea that my

humanity is bound up in yours.

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Each person is a light, and when we help

someone, our light shines brighter, too.

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Ubuntu teaches us that you

can't be a human in isolation.

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We become our best selves through

others', love and support.

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child 2: Does Ubuntu mean

we have to share everything?

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Laura: Great question.

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Ubuntu doesn't mean you can't have

your own things or be your own person.

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It means when we make choices,

we think about others too.

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In some African villages, important

decisions aren't made by just one person.

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Instead, the whole community talks

together under the shade of a big tree

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until they find a solution everyone likes.

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This teaches fairness and

listening to others' ideas.

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In an Umuntu community, people live in

peace by watching out for one another.

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If one family's house needs

repair, all the neighbors might

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come over to help rebuild it.

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If someone is sick, everyone

takes turn bringing them meals.

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Sharing and hospitality, which means

welcoming guests are huge parts of Ubuntu.

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In fact, Nelson Mandela, president of

South Africa and a hero for justice

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once gave, one third of his salary to

a children's fund to help kids in need.

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That's a real life example of

Ubuntu from a great leader.

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He shared what he had to lift others up.

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Can you think of something kind

you did recently or something

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kind someone did for you?

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Maybe you helped your siblings

tie their shoes, or a friend

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cheer you up when you felt down.

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Those are Ubuntu moments.

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When you go, Aw, that was nice.

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That's Ubuntu shining.

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Stand up tall.

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Reach your arms out wide like you're

trying to hug the whole world.

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Now, shout Ubuntu and

give yourself a big hug.

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Ready?

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1, 2, 3, Ubuntu.

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Great.

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Feel that warmth.

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That's a hug from the inside,

knowing we're all in this together.

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Let's take a trip in our minds.

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You can close your eyes if you want.

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Get comfy.

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Take a deep breath in for four counts.

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1, 2, 3, 4.

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Hold it for seven.

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1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

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Big breath out for eight.

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1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

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That always makes me feel calmer.

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Imagine you wake up in a small village in

Southern Africa, the sun is just rising

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over clay huts with thatched roofs.

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You rub your eyes and

step outside your home.

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The air smells like breakfast cooking on

outdoor fires, you hear friendly voices

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child 3: Good morning.

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Laura: everyone greets each other by name.

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You feel safe and loved because you

know every person here cares about you.

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Someone starts beating a drum.

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Can you drum on your

lap or clap to the beat?

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Feel free to dance in place.

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Do a little foot stomp

and wiggle your shoulders.

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In Ubuntu when one person

dances, everybody joins in.

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Great dancing everyone.

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You looked like joyous

kids in the village.

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You see a little boy

trip and scrape his knee.

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Three adults rush to help.

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One brings water, another a

clean cloth, and another hugs

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him until he stops crying.

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Now the sun is setting.

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The village gathers around a crackling

fire for their evening storytelling.

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Just like we gather in this podcast.

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You sit among children and elders

and you feel the warmth of belonging.

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One of the elders begins to tell a tale.

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This is what Ubuntu is all

about, being human together.

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Take a final deep breath.

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Now slowly open your eyes.

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You visited an Ubuntu village.

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How did it feel?

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If it made you feel happy or cozy, that's

the power of imagining a world of Ubuntu.

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Ubuntu is a beautiful idea

from the cultures of Africa.

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Many different faiths teach us to

care for others just like Ubuntu

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let's walk across this friendship

bridge and see some examples.

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In the Christian faith.

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Jesus taught.

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Love your neighbor as yourself.

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That means treat people with the same

kindness and care you'd want for yourself.

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Sounds like Ubuntu, right?

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If your neighbor, is hungry, you

feed them as you feed yourself.

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If they're hurt, you help them.

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Christians believe that by

loving and helping others,

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they're showing love for God.

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Ubuntu and Christianity remind us

to be compassionate and unselfish.

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Buddhism teaches a lot about

kindness and understanding.

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One big idea in Buddhism is

compassion for all living things.

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Buddhists believe in

interdependence, meaning everything,

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and everyone is connected.

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They say that just like different

parts of a tree share the same roots.

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All people, animals, and nature

share a connection because of this

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showing compassion is super important.

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A Buddhist might think, if my

friend is unhappy, I can't be fully

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happy because we are connected.

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Does that ring a bell?

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It's just like Ubuntu.

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In fact, Buddhism teaches that

being compassionate to others

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also brings you happiness because

we're all one big family on earth.

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It's as if many rivers of belief flow

into one big ocean of love and unity.

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Ubuntu is like a bridge that

connects us across cultures.

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It tells us that regardless of

what you believe or where you

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come from, kindness, empathy, and

community, our keys to a happy life.

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child 4: It's like the whole world

is saying be good to each other

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in a bunch of different ways.

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Laura: You got it.

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That's the Friendship

Bridge of Ubuntu values.

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We're all holding hands on that bridge.

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It's game time.

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We're gonna make sure you

get these Ubuntu ideas.

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This game is called Ubuntu, or not Ubuntu.

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Here's how it works.

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I'll describe a situation if you think

the person is acting with Ubuntu, being

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kind, caring, or community minded.

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I want you to shout Ubuntu.

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Throw your hands in the air

like you're celebrating a goal.

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But if it's selfish or unkind,

I want you to say no way and

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cross your arms in front of you.

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All right.

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Let's play!

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Situation one.

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Emma sees her classmate,

Kaio, forgot his lunch.

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Emma decides to share half of her

sandwich with Kaio, so he won't be hungry.

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Is that Ubuntu or not Ubuntu?

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Ubuntu sharing food so no one

stays hungry is totally Ubuntu.

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Situation two.

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Liam has a big box of crayons.

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Another kid in art class doesn't

have any crayons, but Liam says.

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These are mine and refuses

to share Ubuntu or not?

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child 6: Not Ubuntu.

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Laura: right?

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That's not Ubuntu.

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Keeping everything to yourself

and letting someone feel left out

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or sad is the opposite of Ubuntu.

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Situation Three During a class project,

Maria does all the work herself

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and doesn't let her teammates help

because she wants all the credit.

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Ubuntu or not.

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child 6: Not Ubuntu..

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Laura: Correct, not Ubuntu.

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Teamwork is an Ubuntu value.

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If Maria practiced Ubuntu, she would

collaborate and let everyone contribute.

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Situation four, you got a new

board game for your birthday.

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Instead of playing alone, you

invite your siblings or friends

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to play with you because you know

it'll be more fun with everyone.

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Absolutely Ubuntu.

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Sharing fun and experiences so everyone

can be happy together is very Ubuntu.

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How can one of us have fun

if others are left out?

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I see a lot of Ubuntu champions out there.

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Give yourself a high

five or pat on the back.

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In fact, if you're listening with

someone, give them a high five too.

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Say thanks for playing with me.

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Remember the real game

is in everyday life.

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Keep an eye out for chances

to say, yes, that's Ubuntu.

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Or, Hmm, that could use a little

bit more Ubuntu and you can turn

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things around with your actions.

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Which is exactly what we're

doing in this week's challenge.

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Are you excited to live

out Ubuntu this week?

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This challenge will help you take

all this warm, fuzzy, Ubuntu feeling

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and share it in the real world.

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We are calling it One Week

of We Ubuntu Challenge.

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Your goal is to practice

Ubuntu every day for one week.

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That means doing something kind or

helpful for someone else each day and

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noticing how it makes both of you feel.

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Here are a few ideas to get you started.

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Share or give.

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It could be sharing a toy with a

sibling, offering half your cookie

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to a friend or donating an old

jacket to someone who needs it.

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Sharing what you have big

or small is pure Ubuntu.

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Help out.

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Look for one helpful

thing you can do each day.

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Maybe you help your parents by cleaning

up without being asked, or help a

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classmate struggling with a math problem.

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It could be as simple as

holding the door for someone.

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Small acts of help can

make a big difference.

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Empathy minute.

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Each day, take one minute to think

about how someone else might be feeling.

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Is your friend nervous about something?

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Is your sibling sad or bored?

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If you can cheer them up or support

them, maybe draw a picture for a

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family member who's tired or give a

hug to someone who had a rough day.

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Showing empathy, understanding

others' feelings is Ubuntu in action.

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You can write or draw what you

do each day on the printable

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available at faithfullyexplore.com.

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At the end of the week, talk with

your family or friends about it.

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How did practicing Ubuntu make you feel?

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How did it make others feel?

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Did you notice more smiles?

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More trust?

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Maybe a new friendship?

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Sometimes the smallest acts of Ubuntu

can light up someone's whole day.

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And guess what?

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I'd love to hear about your experiences.

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Which brings me to

Laura's Bonus Challenge.

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Share your Ubuntu story with me.

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Ask a grownup to help

you send in what you did.

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Are you up for the Ubuntu Challenge?

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I know you can do it.

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You're part of our Faithfully Explore!

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family and I bet you'll spread

Ubuntu like sunshine wherever you go.

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We've explored a lot today.

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Let's pause and pack away the

most important lessons from

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Ubuntu into our Belief Backpack

so you can carry them with you.

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We are all connected.

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Just like an invisible string

ties all people together.

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Ubuntu teaches that no one is an island.

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I am because we are.

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Every kind, act ripples

across the community.

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When you do good, it spreads to

others and it often comes back to you.

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Everyone Matters.

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In an Ubuntu world,

each person is precious.

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From the youngest to the oldest, from

the strongest to the weakest . No

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one can say, I don't need you.

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Because we all need

each other to be whole.

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Just like every part of a body has

an important job, every person has

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something special to contribute.

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Treat everyone with respect and dignity.

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Your smile or kind word could

mean the world to someone.

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Share and care.

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Life is happier when we share what we

have and care for those around us, whether

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it's sharing food, knowledge, or time.

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Ubuntu says, what's mine is yours.

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We're in this together.

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It means being hospitable,

welcoming others, and making sure

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no one is left out or left hungry.

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Kindness and generosity.

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Create a strong, loving community.

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These three lessons will help keep you

steady and guide you to do what's right.

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Go ahead and zip up your belief backpack

now, so those lessons stay safe with you.

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Now it's time for one of my favorite

parts of the show story time.

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We're going to hear a real African

folk tale that teaches Ubuntu values.

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This story comes from a country in Africa

called the Democratic Republic of Congo,

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and it's called the value of a person.

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Folk tales like this were traditionally

told around evening fires to

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teach children important lessons.

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As you listen, you will hear

different parts of the body.

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When you hear a body

part, move in the story.

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Move your own body part in that same way.

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Let's try a practice.

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The kids clapped their hands

after hearing the music.

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Did you clap your hands?

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Alright, keep listening.

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Once upon a time, all the parts of the

human body got together for a big meeting.

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They wanted to choose

the leader of the body.

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As soon as the meeting started, different

body parts began to boast and argue

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about who was the most important.

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First head spoke up,

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Head: I should be the leader.

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Laura: Head declared proudly.

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Head: I sit up top and carry the brain.

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I'm the smartest.

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I help us think and see and hear.

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Without me, none of you

would know what to do.

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Laura: The head wobbled

with self-importance.

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Everyone wobble your head.

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The other body parts murmured.

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It's true the head holds

the brain and the eyes.

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Suddenly, someone in the crowd shouted

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Crowd: Wait a second head.

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You also get terrible headaches and

you often have lice in the hair.

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You're not that perfect.

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Laura: the body parts, decided

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Crowd: Head You're smart,

but you have faults.

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You cannot be our leader.

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Laura: the head frowned.

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Next hand raised itself high.

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Hand: I should be leader

because I do everything.

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Laura: Said hand,

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Hand: I help us eat.

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I throw a ball right with a pencil, and

if we're in danger, I can even defend us.

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I'm strong and useful.

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Laura: the hand flexed

its fingers confidently.

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Can you flex and wiggle your fingers?

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The body parts murmured again.

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Crowd: True hand, you are handy.

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Laura: They chuckled, but

then someone pointed out,

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Crowd: Sometimes you hit people

or touch things, you shouldn't.

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You also drop things and make mistakes.

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Laura: so the body said,

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Crowd: No hand.

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You can't be the leader either.

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Laura: and the hands lowered quietly.

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Then eyes blinked and spoke up.

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Eyes: What about us?

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The eyes, we help everyone

see where to go without us.

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You'd walk into walls

and step in mud puddles.

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Laura: The eyes fluttered

feeling important.

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You try fluttering your eyelashes.

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Others quickly reminded the eyes.

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Crowd: Yes, but eyes, you also sometimes

look at things you shouldn't like

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peeking at the neighbor's test answers or

looking jealously at other people's toys.

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You can't lead us.

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Laura: The eyes felt

teary and stayed quiet.

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It seemed that no one could pass the

test of being perfect enough to lead.

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Finally, a very small,

quiet voice spoke up.

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It was, well, Let's call him bottom.

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Bottom shyly said.

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Bottom: I would like to be the leader.

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Laura: The whole body burst into laughter.

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The heart was gaffawing.

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The lungs wheezed with chuckles.

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The hands were clapping

in, amusement head snorted.

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Head: You the bottom,

the lowest of us all.

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What could you do as leader?

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You just, you just do bathroom stuff.

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Laura: They all laughed

and laughed at bottom.

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Bottom felt insulted, he said.

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Bottom: If you won't even consider

me, I'll show you how important I am.

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Let's see how you all manage without me.

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Laura: And with that bottom closed up

tight, refusing to do his, usual job.

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He stomped out of the

meeting and went home.

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The other body parts shrugged and decided

to continue their lives without bottom.

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At first, everything was fine.

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They all thought,

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Crowd: Ha who needs bottom?

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We are doing great.

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Laura: but on the second day, things

started feeling uncomfortable.

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The stomach was full and achy.

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By the third day, the whole

body began to slow down.

378

The head felt dizzy and lightheaded.

379

The eyes got blurry

hands and feet felt weak.

380

By day four, it was a crisis.

381

The belly was terribly bloated

and painful, full of stuff

382

that needed to get out.

383

The body was sick.

384

None of the other parts

could fix this problem.

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Only bottom could, but

bottom was on strike.

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Finally on day five, all

the body parts cried out.

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Crowd: Enough we were wrong.

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Laura: They hurried to bottom's, house

head bowed up, head bowed, apologetically,

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hand knocked on bottom's door.

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They all begged.

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Crowd: Dear Bottom, we are so sorry.

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We realize now that you are

just as important as any of us.

393

Please come back and be our leader.

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You're the only one who can

get things flowing again.

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Laura: Bottom was silent for a moment.

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Then the door creaked open.

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Bottom agreed to help.

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He returned his place on the body.

399

And with a great effort he released

everything that had been stuck.

400

Immediately the tummy ache went away,

the blood flowed, the head cleared.

401

The whole body felt

light and healthy again.

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Everyone cheered for bottom.

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Their new brave leader

who had saved the day.

404

From that time on, all the body parts

worked together, respecting each other.

405

No part ever said another part

was useless because they learned

406

each part plays a very important

role in making the body work.

407

And so dear friends, the moral of

the story is nobody should ever

408

say someone else doesn't matter.

409

Every person is important

in their own way.

410

Just like every part of

the body needs the others.

411

Every member of a

community needs the others.

412

A family, a class, a team, a village.

413

They work best when everyone

is respected and included.

414

Next time Explorers will meet Amaterasu,

the Shinto sun goddess who once hid in

415

a cave and left the world in darkness?

416

Listen, next week to

hear why she came out.

417

We'll celebrate her return with a

sun salutation, stretching, folding,

418

and rising with our breath like the

dawn, get ready to shine bright in our

419

next adventure of Faithfully Explore!

420

Wow, what an episode this has been.

421

Thank you for staying with

me through this journey.

422

Remember how we said I am, because we are.

423

I am a happy podcast host because

you are here, curious and caring.

424

We're kind of an Ubuntu family ourselves.

425

I couldn't do this

without you, so thank you.

426

As we wrap up, let's recall

our weekly challenge.

427

Don't forget to practice Ubuntu this week.

428

Share, help, and show empathy.

429

I challenge you to be the reason

someone smiles each day, and

430

notice how it makes you smile too.

431

Before we say goodbye, let's

do one more thing together.

432

Put your hand on your heart.

433

Can you feel it beating?

434

Say this out loud.

435

I am.

436

Because we are.

437

I am.

438

Because we are.

439

child 7: I am because we are.

440

Laura: That's our Ubuntu promise.

441

Keep that in your heart.

442

Until next time.

443

Remember you're never alone.

444

We're all connected, and there's a whole

world of friends and helpers out there.

445

This is Laura from Faithfully Explore!

446

Saying Goodbye for now, or as

they say in Zulu, one of the

447

languages of Ubuntu Sala kahle!

448

Keep that curious spirit shining and

keep spreading Ubuntu wherever you go.

449

Faithfully Explore! Outro:

450

Faithfully Explore!

451

is about you.

452

Let's grow kinder together it's true!