Welcome
UBUNTU CENTRE!!!
Remember notes on Ubuntu by Torya Beard? I am so grateful for all of the stories Torya and Jonathan shared,
during the process of opening the center in Port Elizabeth. Well the center is finally open and we at The Future
celebrate with all the success and the work that is ahead.
On September 16, The Ubuntu Centre opened yesterday to a crowd of enthused community members, international supporters, and local officials. Hugh Masekela’s horn echoed through the halls of the Centre, drifting from the theatre
to the clinic and the furthest reaches of the education wing.
The crowd heard about the story of The Ubuntu Centre from a number of different perspectives—the architect,
Stan Field, President Jacob Lief, and Ubuntu Scholar, Bulali Kyokopu. Bulali’s poem about Ubuntu and the impact it
has had on the community brought a tearful audience to their feet for a standing ovation.
The Ubuntu Centre, which represents a $6 million investment, features a pediatric HIV clinic, community theatre, and educational centre. Solar and wind energy will be used to power the innovative building, which will also benefit from
passive heating, grey-water recycling, and other green technology.
The majority of major investments in Africa are based in wealthy cities and neighborhoods. Never before has a
beautifully designed, high-quality medical and education centre been available to the people who need it the most, in
their own backyards. The Port Elizabeth townships suffer from a 40% HIV rate and an 80% unemployment rate—the
grim legacies of apartheid. By providing necessary services in an inspiring environment, right in the townships, The
Ubuntu Centre will uplift the body, mind, and spirit of the community.
