Playing Games With South African Children - African Ubuntu

Every week I had the chance to take a stroll to St Vincent's for a visit and some play time. There were several games played, but my favourite to remember included common stones and quick reflexes. Rock games are fun...if you have fast eye-hand co-ordination, but I learnt from the children of St Vincent's that even if you don't, the rules can be bent.

In the shade, on the pavement, I'm sitting with three sets of sturdy legs and dusty bare feet that are adjusting and folding for a better advantage position. There is a scraggly, uneven circle drawn with a pebble, nature's chalk, at the center of our group and each contestant is guarding a pile of rocks strategically placed next to her speedy draw hand.

Up goes a single stone, tossed at a practiced and calculated height and into the circle go the pile of rocks. The stone is caught, tossed up again and all the rocks in the centre are raked out, except one. The tossed stone lands victoriously back into the hand...hopefully. These four steps are all done with the same hand, no switching allowed. The single left over stone is collected as score. This game is very similar to "Jacks" but seems infinitely harder.

Hushed voices are remarking on the success of each attempt and all eyes are concentrated on the circle and stones.

It's my turn...if I remember correctly Mario Cart was easier-do you have this? No. The toss up, hands frantically groping for rocks-do I look at the pile or the stone in the air? Stone landing-ooops-I thought my hand was faster than that. A second attempt; throwing the stone higher for more air time doesn't produce desired results-I think I lost my stone over there somewhere.

I am trying again for good measure but still my hand is no better and just as clumsy. There are twinkles in the eyes watching me, a short decisive conversation amongst my contenders and a sudden shift in the game from throwing a stone up and catching it to throwing up an imaginary stone and pretending to catch it.

I am laughing in sheepish appreciation of such a gesture, especially because there are no questions as to whether or not the aces I'm playing with will or will not participate in this new variation. Around the circle each girl takes her turn moving the rocks in and out of the circle and pretends to throw and catch this other imaginary stone. The game continues on, now that the playing field is level for everyone involved. What helps me is good enough for everyone else too. An example of African ubuntu.

The Khanyisela Scholarship Program was started in January 2010 by Rachel Beggs and Anne Whiting. They saw first-hand the high academic potential and desire that children at St. Vincent's possessed to pursue careers such as teachers, doctors, or lawyers, and knew the need for such professions in this developing country. They also knew that without support, none of these children would have the financial or social means to access the higher education needed to fulfill their potential. To sponsor a child please visit http://khanyisela.org