An anthropologist studying African tribes gathered a group of children and suggested a game. He placed a basket full of sweet fruits beside a tree and told them that the first to reach the basket would get all the fruits. When he finished speaking, the children looked at each other and held hands. Then they ran together toward the basket. When they reached the basket, they sat together around it and happily shared the fruits. Seeing this, the anthropologist asked them why they had all run together hand in hand when one of them could have had all the fruits. Then they answered, “Ubuntu!” Ubuntu is a Nguni Bantu term meaning “I am because we are,” or “humanity towards each other.” The children also said, “How can one of us be happy if all the others are sad?”
We live together in this world. If we go together, we can go farther. I’m so happy today to be with you whom I’m able to hold hands with. I want to share this happiness with all our neighbors in the global village through this family walkathon where everyone is No. 1. Let’s walk together hand in hand.