What is Ubuntu, and Why Do We Celebrate It?
Season of Peace, Justice, and Love
by Viji Panda, Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging
and The Rev. Adam Varner, Chaplain
In December, we learned about the Kwanzaa principles which naturally connect to the themes of peace, justice, and love. Its principles encourage building harmonious communities (peace), standing up for fairness and equity (justice), and fostering mutual care and respect (love).
That conversation continues with our celebration of Ubuntu in January. Ubuntu is a South African philosophy meaning “I am, because we are.” It speaks to our interconnectedness. As Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu exclaimed, “We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected, and what you do affects the whole world. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity.”
Inspired by this philosophy for the last 12 years, Trinity students, faculty and staff make a renewed commitment each January to focus on the human spirit and the elements of peace, love, diversity, justice, service, kindness, belonging, authenticity, positive attitude, curiosity, respect and community.
Ubuntu at Trinity
-
Our season of Ubuntu includes learning about the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who embodied these principles and then celebrating Black History Month in February.
-
Rather than focusing on the start or end dates of Ubuntu, MLK, or BHM, we embrace the interconnectedness of their themes, recognizing that observing them as a unified whole enriches our understanding and experience. To commemorate our 25th anniversary, we are proud to launch The Season of Peace, Justice, and Love.
-
This year, a committee of faculty members worked together to generate ideas that would authentically reflect how we engage with, teach, and celebrate Ubuntu, MLK, Black History Month, President’s Day, and Valentine’s Day. Their goal was to create meaningful connections between these observances, highlighting shared values such as community, justice, love, and reflection while fostering a deeper understanding of their significance in our shared history.
-
For Preschool, most activities and lessons will take place in the classroom, with the library showcasing a selection of highlighted books
-
The Ubuntu season of Peace, Justice and Love will be highlighted in chapel during January and February in homilies and special guests, and lessons in classrooms and advisories, and displays in our libraries emphasize these elements.
The spirit of the Season of Peace, Justice, and Love at Trinity doesn’t start and end in January. We live it every day. We seek wisdom from different voices and respect the dignity of every human being. We are reminded daily in chapel to love others as God loves us. And to do so, we must truly see and understand one another.
About the Authors
Viji Panda, Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging
Viji Panda joined Trinity in 2006 and currently leads the school’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging strategy and programs. She currently serves on the NAES DEIB Conference Committee, served on the NAES Biennial Advisory Committee, served on the Independent Schools Association of Southwest DEIJ Taskforce Committee, and was the co-chair of Trinity's last ISAS Self Study/Accreditation Visit. She earned her BBA from the University of Houston and her MBA from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio and is a CDP (Certified Diversity Professional). Viji and her husband Raj have lived in Austin for over 32 years and are the proud parents of Shreyas (Trinity Alum 2007) and Chetan. Viji’s favorite animals are pandas and elephants!
The Rev. Adam Varner, Chaplain
Pastor Adam Varner is the Chaplain of Trinity Episcopal School and Blue House Preschool. He grew up in Austin, spent some time in Japan and China, and then attended divinity school at the University of Chicago. In Chicago he served as a youth minister and later associate pastor at a church and nonprofit. Pastor Adam returned to Austin to serve as a chaplain and religion teacher at another Episcopal school for four years before joining Trinity. Pastor Adam shares his home with his wife, Hen (who is also an educator), their three young children, and their not-so-young dog. Grace is in 2nd grade, and Luke is in kindergarten at Trinity, and his youngest, Lily, is in PK2 at Blue House Preschool. When not on the Trinity campus, you can probably find Pastor Adam spending time with his family, going for a walk (preferably in nature), eating Tex-Mex, or talking with anyone who is willing to discuss connections between religion and particular books, movies, TV shows, or current events.