Media/ Press | Ubuntu Army

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The Spirit of Ubuntu Documentary (Trinity Version)

The Spirit Of Ubuntu ({oǒ’boǒntoō|}) is an award winning documentary that has received accolades from film festivals all over the world. Filmed in 10 countries across the continent of Africa, you will be captivated by breathtaking visuals and heartfelt narratives that showcase the beauty of human connection and the transformative power of togetherness. Enjoy this amazing movie that delves into the heartwarming stories and powerful message of unity, compassion, and community in The Spirit of Ubuntu Documentary and the award winning introductory short film called The Baobab Tree Story.

Award winning film director Kudzai Tinago teams up with grammy nominated reggae legend Pato Banton and world renowned keyboard player Antoinette Rootsdawtah on an amazing journey across the continent of Africa to explore and document the ancient philosophy of Ubuntu. An idea that has its roots in the Bantu dialect, meaning “I Am because We Are” illustrating the interconnectedness of all Humanity. The documentary also focuses on some the most dynamic and visionary leaders across Africa who practice the teachings of Ubuntu in their daily work to improve the lives of the people in their local and surrounding communities.

Spread the word, watch it with your friends, and let's celebrate the Spirit of Ubuntu together—Ubuntu to the world!!!

In these times of global upheaval, it’s time to turn to the solutions that can be found in the ancient African philosophy of Ubuntu and the traditions of all Indigenous Peoples.

“What was hidden in the night, will be revealed in the morning.”
(an old African proverb)

Director: Kudzai Tinago
Produced by: Pato Banton
Assistant Director: Answer Sofa
Executive Director: Gard Jameson
Music Score/Interviewer: Antoinette Rootsdawtah

Sponsored by Compassionate Las Vegas
www.TheSpiritOfUbuntu.Us
Email: UbuntuNow1@gmail.com

Ubuntu During Lockdown | This Is How S2 E9 | Ubuntu Army

Clint Mclean is an artist and the founder of Ubuntu Army, a collection of ordinary, everyday, garden variety South Africans, who offer their skills, resources and time to assist the most vulnerable members of our society to reclaim their dignity and independence. It is Ubuntu Army's belief that the support offered, and received, unites South Africans, and builds trust, community and compassion between, previously separated individuals and communities. Compassion builds community. Through this bond of sharing, of Ubuntu, we will forge true democracy, free of agenda, divisive politics and razor wire.

When lockdown hit, Clint initially thought it would be a great idea to escape into the mountains with his son to avoid the drama of lockdown and isolation but when he realised how dangerous the impact of lockdown was, he decided to stay and fight.

Clint started distributing masks to various informal settlement in KZN then soup and food parcels to vulnerable communities around Durban. Through the work of Ubuntu Army, many KZN communities managed to survive the harsh impact of lockdown.

Ubuntu Army now is on a mission of self sustainability in shacks settlements through micro urban gardening.

Reach out and connect to Ubuntu Army:
https://www.ubuntuarmy.org

Build for Better story of HOPE 2020 - Ubuntu Army

Compassion for humanity is at the heart of Ubuntu.

Compassion builds Community!

Ubuntu is a Nguni Bantu term meaning humanity. It is often translated as "I am because we are" and represents the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity.
Ubuntu Army is a collective of ordinary South Africans, harnessing their skills to help the most vulnerable members of our society, especially as they face the challenges presented by Covid-19.

We stand together!

The Build For Better initiative is a collection of stories of real hope from across South Africa These stories remind and encourage us to sow good into our nation and to Build for Better Together. They are brought to you by SBS Tanks.

We at SBS trust that sharing these stories will bring hope and joy, and inspire you to live your own Build For Better story.

Visit www.buildforbetter.co.za or @TheBuildForBetterInitiative facebook page.

#buildforbetter #storiesofhope #hope #sbstanks

KindnessCan.TV | Episode 1 : A Message For The World

EP1- Siyathuthuka Creche
In this episode, we touch elbows with Clint Mclean founder of Ubuntu Army. We discover that no matter where you are in the world or how small your space you can still "farm kindness".

Well? What is Kindness?... In this episode, we unpack what kindness means to most.
Director | DP : Lee Jackson
Producer | Director : Ash Jackson Paul Bushell

RAW 4x4 gifts suspension kit to Ubuntu Army member

During a visit to South Africa, Roger Lassen RAW 4x4's Managing Director came across the outreach programme Ubuntu Army. Ubuntu Army's charity work takes them to remote locations, where there are only dirt roads, some with deep ruts and donga's. RAW 4x4 saw the opportunity to help and gifted a suspension kit to Ubuntu Army member, Clint McLean. The kit, fitted on Clint’s aging Land Cruiser, is a welcomed upgrade to the vehicle as the new RAW 4x4 suspension kit has equipped him to get to far outlying communities where help is needed most. #RAW4x4 #G.U.D.Holdings #ubuntu #UbuntuArmy

Ubuntu Now! Music Video by Pato Banton

Reggae Legends, Pato Banton & Antoinette Rootsdawtah present this amazing video to share the All-Embracing message and philosophy of Ubuntu and to highlight some of their experiences during their 3 month journey to 12 countries across Africa to film the upcoming documentary called "The Spirit of Ubuntu!"

Camera Crew:
Answer Sofa
Kudzai Tinago
Johnny Walker
Antoinette Rootsdawtah
Video Editing by Pato Banton

Origin: Ubuntu is an ancient African word meaning ‘humanity to others’. It is often described as a reminder that “I am, because you are” or “I am, because WE are”. In a philosophical sense it promotes the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity”.

History: "Ubuntu" as a political philosophy encourages mutual support, community equity and socialization. (which should not be confused with socialism) The name also differs by country, such as in Angola (gimuntu), Botswana (muthu), Burundi (ubuntu), Cameroon (bato), Congo (bantu), Congo Democratic Republic (bomoto/bantu), Kenya (utu/munto/mondo), Malawi (umunthu), Mozambique (vumuntu), Namibia (omundu), Rwanda (ubuntu), South Africa (ubuntu/botho), Tanzania (utu/obuntu/bumuntu), Uganda (obuntu), Zambia (umunthu/ubuntu) and Zimbabwe (Ubuntu, unhu or hunhu). It is also found in other Bantu countries. The are different definitions in different regions, but they all point to one thing – “an authentic individual human being is part of a larger and more significant relational, communal, societal, environmental and spiritual world.”

Destiny: The purpose and destiny of this project is to present the meaning and values of Ubuntu across all regions of Africa and around the world. By creating a Video Documentary that focuses on the Social, Ethical, Moral and Universal aspects of Ubuntu and how it can be applied in practical life situations, will allow teachers and leaders the opportunity to share these valuable lessons with their respective communities and hopefully inspire the next generation to become enthusiastic activists to bring about more peace and global progress. Let’s bring the Spirit of Ubuntu to the world!

So we invite you to participate to make this Vision become a Reality!
www.TheSpiritOfUbuntu.Us

www.Edentia.us
www.StandUpForJustice.Us
www.OfficialPatoBanton.com
www.facebook.com/patobanton
www.facebook.com/ministerpatobanton
/ officialpatobanton
www.facebook.com/patobantonandthenowgeneration

RAW 4x4 lift kit upgrade Toyota Land Cruiser Ubuntu Army

4WDrives are not just used as recreational vehicles, in the case of Clint McLean, founder of Ubuntu Army, he uses his Land Cruiser to bring aid to the less fortunate in some of the most impoverished parts of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa. Earlier this year RAW 4x4 donated a full suspension lift kit upgrade for Clint’s Land Cruiser to help the Ubuntu Army in their mission to assist the most vulnerable members of our society. Watch the video to see the results. To find out more about the Ubuntu Army and to lend your support visit https://www.ubuntuarmy.org/

press

The Spirit of Ubuntu - Documentary Poster

The Spirit of Ubuntu documentary team produced an award winning film, and released a country specific poster, on behalf of each off the organizations featured in the film

Northglen News - Compassion grows community,’ says Durban North NPO

Cover Photo - Clint Mclean delivers food to refugees

Written by: Danica Hansen
August 22, 2020

Clint McLean said the ethos of ubuntu is lacking in South African culture that is marked by extremes of wealth.

Through an initiative called Ubuntu Army, Durban North resident Clint McLean aims to promote a spirit of ubuntu, by encouraging donors to go beyond writing a cheque, to meet and interact with people in less fortunate communities. McLean said the ethos of ubuntu is lacking in South African culture that is marked by extremes of wealth where fostering a sense of community could help to break down social politics.

“The best definition of ubuntu is: I am because we are. My identity is tied to your identity, my happiness is tied to yours – it asks the question: how can I be happy when you are not? Usually people give money to charities, but I think it’s more important for people to get actively involved on a community level, to break down the barriers between people, so they get to know the people they are helping. That’s how a sense of community gets built- compassion builds community. The more compassion you have, the more you can give to the people around you,” said McLean.

The local sculptor started the initiative in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent food crisis.
“It morphed overtime. In the beginning I aimed to offer support to vulnerable communities. I thought people without means would be struggling in the core areas like affording masks. It soon became clear that we were going to have a hunger issue, so we swapped from masks to feeding people,” he said.

With substantial donations from friends and colleagues in the United States, where he has worked as a sculptor, McLean ran a feeding scheme from St Peter’s Catholic Church in Durban.
“I went into the Durban CBD and identified about 350 refugee families, because I felt that refugees were probably the most vulnerable people. We then went and made deals with supermarkets and we got about 11 tons of food and we had a fleet of bakkies. We ran big convoys of food into the Point area,” said Mclean.

From these simple beginnings, the initiative now caters to 2300 families in the Point area. What’s more, McLean created a Facebook Group called Ubuntu Link which has attracted almost 6000 members in need of food hampers.
“I’ve then got moderators all around the world in New Zealand, Australia, the US, the UK and South Africa. We find donors to directly interact with the people on Ubuntu Link,” he said.

McLean also created a Facebook group for Ubuntu Army, where people can create a post about an initiative they want to start and network with almost 2000 other.

This is when you identify someone in the community that you trust and they identify 25-30 people who need food, you raise the funds and then I do the logistics, to deliver the food. Most people can raise the money and don’t even mind buying the food, but they are terrified to go into the townships, so I am the guy with the truck, doing the deliveries,” he said.
For more information, visit the Ubuntu Army or Ubuntu Link Facebook pages or the website via: www.ubuntuarmy.org.

Northglen News - Durban North NPO goes from Giving to Growing Mini Farms

Cover Photo - Fin and Clint McLean are developing 'mini farms' to empower people to grow food in small spaces

Written by: Danica Hansen
September 25, 2020

Durban North based NPO, Ubuntu Army is introducing Ubuntu Farms, a new project which aims to go from ‘giving to growing’ by empowering people to transition away from reliance on food hampers, to begin growing their own food.

The organisation, which started in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, has focused on delivering food hampers to refugees stranded in Durban when the South African boarder was shut during the lockdown as well as families struggling to survive amidst pay cuts and job losses brought on by the lockdown.

Through their Facebook page, Ubuntu Link, 6000 families are being linked up with donors while the Ubuntu Army page gives donors a platform to network with others and further their efforts.

Now, founder, Clint Mclean and his son, Fin McLean are developing ‘mini farms’ to empower people to grow food in small spaces.

Fin, a sustainable development student, said the ‘mini farm’ package consists of eight compost bags with various seedlings planted directly into the bags to make a simple, cost effective container that takes up very little space.
“For people who don’t have enough space, we could put together a micro farm of just four bags,” said Fin.

The ‘farms’ are made up of regenerative plants, which can be harvested without dying, such as celery, tomatoes, spring onion, lettuce, spinach and chilies.

Clint said Ubuntu Farms is inspired by Colin Bundy’s book, The Rise and Fall of the African Peasantry.

Northglen News - From hand outs to green fingers with Durban North NPO

Cover Photo - Bhambayi resident, Gertrude Mxinwa and her grandson, Melokule Bonela showcase their thriving mini 'farm' as Taylor Irving and Fin McLean of Ubuntu Army check in.

Written by: Danica Hansen
October 24, 2020

The ‘mini farm’ package consists of eight compost bags with various regenerative seedlings planted directly into the bags.

Vegetable gardens are springing up in Bhambayi after Durban North based organisation, Ubuntu Army launched Ubuntu Farms as the ‘next step’ from delivering food hampers to those affected by the Covid-19 lockdown. Ubuntu Farms, aims to go from ‘giving to growing’ by empowering people to grow their own vegetables.
Ubuntu Army founder Clint Mclean is developing the Ubuntu Farm mini farms with his son, Fin McLean, a sustainable development student. Seedlings are planted directly into compost bags to create a thriving ‘farm’.

“We have a really good relationship with a young farmer in Eshowe and he’s providing us with 2000-3000 seedlings at a time. Compost or fertile soil is our next challenge. Anyone is capable of growing seedlings, but compost allows plants to thrive. We bought a lot of amazing soil from the SPCA. It’s such fertile soil that we are growing successfully in it and it’s working really well,” he said.

“Planting directly into the earth is what we’d like to see, where people have got land, and where the soil is fertile, but a lot of the time, the people who really need these gardens don’t have the space and the soil isn’t fertile where they live. Enriching soil becomes really important,” added McLean.

Bhambayi resident, Gertrude Mxinwa said the vegetable garden is helping her to provide for her children and grandchildren.
“I made a salad with the red and green lettuce from my garden and I cooked a curry dish with the spinach. The garden is helping me because now I have something to cook and eat other than just phutu. I have five sons and only one of them gets a SASSA grant. The rest are unemployed,” she said.

McLean hopes to fine tune the project so it is easily adapted for other communities.
“We want to create a system that’s easily replicated, all we need to do is find farmers and foster a sustainable culture. We are working on designing a system that can be applied everywhere,” he said.

The project was designed with refugees in mind, to allow them to grow food in the confined living spaces of the inner city. “We are delivering mini farms to about 20 refugees in the Point Road area as well as a community in Inchanga,” concluded Clint.

Sunday Times - Sand has become a meal replacement for some of KZN’s starving children: Scarce food aid is not enough to feed struggling families

Cover Photo - Boiled rice or maize meal serves as their staple diet; nutritious food is unaffordable.

Written by Suthentira Govender
8 May 2022

Partially blind Florence Maphalala, 74, who set up a makeshift crèche in the area, relies on food aid from donors to help a growing number of struggling women feed their little ones. The dank little room, often crammed with children and the elderly, has become a beacon of hope because donations of food and clothes sometimes arrive.
“When our children are hungry they eat sand. It breaks my heart. I am battling to help whoever I can. If we don’t get help they will die. I don’t even know what to say any more,” said Mapalala.

Clint McLean, who runs aid organisation Ubuntu Army, is a regular visitor to Matikwe, where he provides food aid. “Food insecurity in this area is at an all-time high. It has been this way since before Covid-19, the looting and the floods. I think the latest disaster just exacerbated the situation. “The community usually gets hot meals about twice a week from donors. It’s more than likely it’s their only hot meal for the week.
“I’ve seen with my own eyes children eating sand. The aid we provide keeps the wolf from the door, but not for long.”

The aid we provide keeps the wolf from the door, but not for long.
Clint Mclean

Unemployed Snenhlanhla Mthembu, has to feed nine family members, including her two children, with just over R900 from the child support grant she receives. “What breaks my heart is when my children say to me: ‘Mommy, I’m hungry. Sometimes they go to bed with little or no food for two or three days in the week. We rely on their school to give them something to eat because it has a feeding scheme. They eat plain maize meal or rice and have to be happy that they had something to fill their stomachs. I don’t have money to buy them anything that is healthy. We just survive with what we have.”

Mvelo Mzimela, 16, could pass for a 10-year-old because of his minute size. His main reason for going to school is that he is fed there. “It hurts a lot when we don’t have anything to eat. I take medication every day and I need proper food, which we don’t have,” he said.

Mervyn Abrahams, programme co-ordinator at the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity Group, which compiles the monthly household affordability index report, said that as of April the average cost to feed a child a basic nutritious diet was R800.35.

“Year on year, the cost to feed a child a basic nutritious diet has increased by R48.58, or 6.5%.“

The child support grant of R480 is 23% below the food poverty line of R624 and 40% below the average cost to feed a child a basic nutritious diet. “Annual increments do not close the gap between the actual cost of feeding a child a basic nutritious diet a month, nor do the increments keep up with the actual inflationary increase on food.
Households are moving from affordable food to cheap food, which is often less nutritious.”

It’s not just that children are getting stunted, some children are dying because of hunger in a country that is food secure at a country level
Mervyn Abrahams

“When you look at core foods, it’s all starch, maize meal, rice, flour and potatoes. All of this is driving malnutrition and stunting. Our stunting figures, according to Stats SA, is 30% for boys under five and 25% for girls under five — already high by global standards. We are expecting this to increase. It’s not just that children are getting stunted. Some children are dying because of hunger in a country that is food secure at a country level. It’s a major indictment on our social and economic system that children are either stunted or dying,” said Abrahams.

Sunday Times - Civil society offers support for hungry families: NGOs step in to help feed families who have slipped through the cracks

Cover Photo - A child from Makhonyeni, an impoverished rural area in northern KwaZulu-Natal, has become accustomed to eating amahewu - a fermented porridge - as his only daily meal.

Written by Suthentira Govender
29 May 2022

NGOs are offering food and other provisions to families in need after the Sunday Times exposed the plight of many hungry and desperate children. According to figures supplied to parliament, 2,818 children under the age of five have died of malnutrition in hospitals in the past three years. The story last month revealed that hunger is killing rising numbers of children in SA, with at least 199 under the age of five dying of malnutrition in the first two months of this year alone.

Families hit hard by Covid-19 lockdowns and poverty are battling to put food on the table, with KwaZulu-Natal experiencing much of the pain. Experts say the situation is likely to get worse as more people sink into poverty as an economic upturn soon appears unlikely. With interest rates set to rise and the continuing war in Ukraine, a major grain exporter, experts are predicting steeper prices and even more hardship.
The story revealed that children in Matikwe, north of Durban, were resorting to eating sand to quell their hunger.

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After the article, Meals on Wheels, an NPO that provides poverty-hit communities with nutritious meals and food security, has started providing aid to Matikwe. The organisation’s Camy-Lee Jerome said: “We are providing fresh produce and ingredients for cooking wholesome, hot meals to our branch in the region.
“We have been receiving donations of non-perishable food as well, which we are redirecting to the Harambe Mouths branch. They are preparing the meals and distributing them to those in need there.

“Hot cooked meals, box juices and baby formula have been distributed in Matikwe.”
Jerome described children eating sand as “absolutely devastating”.

“We wanted to have a quick response and get food out as soon as possible.”
Clint McLean, who runs aid organisation Ubuntu Army which established a relationship with the community when they started providing food aid a while ago, said: “As a result of the Sunday Times article I have been inundated with calls to help the community. Ubuntu Army has committed to a weekly fresh vegetable drop to the creche along with a huge container of stuff that has been donated from Australia. “It’s an incredibly telling indicator that people are willing to help.”
NGO ForAfrika has also stepped in.

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In a food-secure, upper-middle income country such as ours, we should hang our heads that these young lives, full of hope and promise, have been cut ...
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Ivan Krishna, community development officer in KwaZulu-Natal, said: “Our first step, in this case, would be to contact the other organisations working in the area, the health department and relevant community structures. This would be followed by a scientific assessment of the needs.

“In SA we work with preschools or home-based day care centres. Once registered with us, we provide them with corn, soya and sugar blend, fortified with vitamins and minerals that give a child 75% of their required daily nutritional intake to ensure proper growth and development.”

“I think it is important to stress that there is no quick fix to malnutrition. Yes, we can provide emergency feeding but this is not sustainable. Essentially, there needs to be a long-term, multifaceted approach that includes education about nutrition, sanitation and hygiene, deworming — since these are inextricably linked.”

NGOs are not the only ones coming forward, individuals are also pitching in. A single mom from Soweto, who asked for anonymity, and her retired mother have also offered their help.

“We are not wealthy but I feed my child formula milk and my child has never slept without food. I am just an ordinary person but together with the church we can help get some food and warm clothes for these children.”

Johannesburg-based investment company Siyanda Resources will be visiting the community of Jozini in northern KwaZulu-Natal to offer help, said the company’s project assistant for corporate social investment, Ziyanda Mdletshe.
They will work through a local NGO, Siyaphambili Qondile.

“We are looking to sponsor as many nutrition packs as possible, with the possibility of starting soup kitchens in the area,” said Mdletshe.