‘In Africa there is a concept known as ‘ubuntu’ – the profound sense that we are human only through the humanity of others; that if we are to accomplish anything in this world it will in equal measure be due to the work and achievement of others.’ (Nelson Mandela)
I ran a professional development seminar for Action Learning Associates-trained and ILM-recognised Action Learning (AL) facilitators last week. Participants work for an international NGO, Practical Action, and are from and based in Rwanda, South Africa and the UK. We explored together the potential meaning, value and adaptation-application of AL in different cultural contexts.
A South African participant reflected on the value of action learning against the backdrop of that country’s history, particularly where black people and communities were often deprived of opportunity to exert influence over their own lives and society. Action learning’s focus on developing personal-group agency would align with the NGO’s philosophy and approach to empowerment in that context.
A Rwandan participant, working at a refugee camp with people who speak Congolese and Burundian, found it tricky initially to explain action learning in her cultural context; firstly because participants were more familiar with traditional didactic training, and secondly because some of the concepts and language used in classic action learning were quite difficult to translate directly.
A UK participant offered the African cultural concept or ubuntu, one familiar in many African contexts, as a potential model to convey the spirit of action learning. The South African and Rwandan participants agreed. Ubuntu views the individual in the context of a wider group and network of interdependent relationships: ‘My life, wellbeing and success are intertwined with yours.’
