‘We are the world’

Visiting researcher Titus Pacho stressed the importance of Ubuntu values, during an interesting and lively presentation on community service learning and global citizenship education. The event was organised by the Special Interest Group on Community Service Learning in collaboration with the Centre for Global Challenges.

Pacho started the session showing the performance of We are the world by Michael Jackson at the Pasadena Super Bowl 1993. The song represents exactly the goal of community service learning, global citizenship education and Ubuntu: to make the world a better place. Or, in the words of Nelson Mandela: ‘We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in your hands to make a difference.’

Central to the presentation was the idea of Ubuntu: the African Philosophy based on the concept of common humanity and the need to take appropriate action to promote its wellbeing. Interconnectedness stands at the heart of Ubuntu philosophy. ‘I am because we are, we are because I am’. The African philosophy provides a universal truth, according to Pacho, and values like care, respect, trust and empathy. Values that are, also at the core of Global Citizenship Education and Community Service Learning.

Think globally, act locally

Service-learning was defined by Pacho as a teaching and learning approach that integrates community service with academic study, reflection and analysis to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility and strengthen communities (National Commission on Service-learning 2002). Pacho posed that service-learning can be an instrument for global citizenship education. Global Citizenship Education (GCE) is education that opens people’s eyes and minds to the realities of the world and awakens them to bring about a world of greater justice, equity and human rights for all (Maastricht Global Education Declaration, 2002). In short: think globally, act locally.

Powerful philosophy

Pacho stated that many problems we face today are because we think ‘I AM because I AM’. However, a balance is needed between the individual and the collective: “I am because WE are, and we are because I AM”. That’s why Ubuntu can be a powerful philosophy to guide CSL and GCE and to educate our students in how they can truly contribute to a better world.

There’s no ‘one size fits all’ to CSL and GCE: contexts are unique, yet students learn better with practical and real world tasks. His advice: blend CSL & GCE learning goals and activities in such a way that the two reinforce each other and produce a greater impact than either could alone.

Dr. Titus O. Pacho is a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy of Education at the School of Education and Human Resource Development at Kisii University in Kenya. He has 10+ years’ experience in teaching, research, consultancy, professional development training and community engagement. His current research interests include service-learning, global citizenship education, 21st century education, ethics education, and teacher education and professional development. Currently, Pacho works as a visiting researcher at the Centre for Global Challenges.
 

The programme Community Service Learning (CSL) was set up in the summer of 2018. The ambition of this programme is that there are visible and attractive opportunities for all students to work on societal challenges such as climate change, inclusivity and health care together with governmental organizations, businesses and/or citizens. Students learn from society and society learns from students. Read more on CSL here.