Our Aims in more detail
“A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special.”
At Entarataambe, we believe that developing and encouraging the Head, Heart and Hands, is key to functioning with wisdom, compassion and right action. We need all three of the ‘Hs’ together to go forth into the world. If we can also ‘think global, act local’, as the saying goes, we can understand how our actions impact other beings and they us. We are all interconnected, interdependent.
In this way, within our values-driven education model, our aim is for our students to become confident, resilient, kind, courageous and respectful members of their communities, who will have learnt the practical and critical thinking skills necessary to thrive and to help others to thrive in today’s world.
Obuntu
Obuntu is an African philosophy or set of values, often translated as ‘I am because we are’ or ‘humanity toward others.’ It is a belief in the universal bonds that connect all people – “a person is a person because of, or through, others”.
Because of this innate interconnectedness, almost everything we do affects other people. By learning and thinking about Obuntu and what it means for our school community, we can appreciate and celebrate courage, kindness, empathy, co-operation and reconciliation among other values. We can understand that by respecting each other, no matter who we are, what our beliefs, actions or backgrounds, together we can build a supportive, resilient community and participate fully in it.
Obuntu, Nature and Environment
In a rapidly changing world, we believe it is important to equip children with the understanding, skills and ability to adapt and respond appropriately. For example, as human-made climate change increasingly affects rainfall, temperature and seasons, causing extreme heat, droughts, flooding, food insecurity and unpredictability, understanding how to adapt agricultural practices – where, when and what to plant – becomes imperative, as is avoiding chemicals and pollution, while conserving our soils and water to ensure healthier, sustainable crop yields.
Through understanding the interconnectedness and interdependence implicit in Obuntu, naturally we extend our Obuntu values to other beings in our environment. Harming non-human animals and plants around us, including their habitats (soil, trees, air, water) is harming ourselves. That is why we emphasise respect for nature and see nature as a part of ourselves. 30 percent of food crops in the world need cross pollination from bees; if we spray insecticide in our gardens, we destroy these tiny pollinating creatures and ultimately our ability to feed ourselves. At Entarataambe, children learn from first-hand experience how to protect the vegetables they have planted and nourish the soil using organic and traditional methods that encourage, rather than harm, nature.
Our Core Obuntu Values
At a whole staff Obuntu workshop in May, 12 core values were agreed by a process of discussion and consensus whereby all participants were encouraged to contribute, putting one of our chosen core values, inclusiveness, into practice!
Every week of each 12-week term, a different value is explored in school assemblies and lessons, with certificates awarded to those who have been demonstrating our values consistently.
CORE VALUE | Including | Definition and Comments |
RESPECT | Humanity, good manners, admiration | Respect for self and for others, for nature and the environment, for school resources and equipment. Treating others well. |
CO-OPERATION | Harmony, teamwork, working together, sharing, problem-solving, helpfulness | Working creatively and harmoniously with others, in different groupings on a variety of tasks and activities involving problem-solving, exploring and investigating. |
INCLUSIVENESS | Participation, tolerance, equality, involvement, engagement | Not excluding, ignoring, being prejudiced against, harming or leaving out anyone because of religious beliefs, ability or disability, gender, ethnicity, race, socio-economic status. Enabling all to participate equally. |
KINDNESS | Compassion, caring, love, helpfulness, nurturing | Includes kindness to all living beings in our school, local community and beyond, plants and animals. Protecting, caring for, nurturing and helping others to survive and thrive. |
RESPONSIBILITY | Taking initiative, Being proactive, accountability | Taking responsibility for our thoughts, words and actions, for our learning, for our school and for our environment, for not causing harm to others or to our planet Earth. |
HONESTY | Truthfulness, transparency, integrity | Telling the truth at all times and not misleading others in any way, for example by omitting information. Not taking what is not freely given. Creating trust. |
RESILIENCE | Determination, hard work, not giving up, adaptation, flexibility | Keeping going when things are difficult or you have a problem to solve. The ability to bounce back after disappointment. To adapt in the face of disaster or change. |
GENEROSITY | Sharing, giving, fairness | The act of giving, not necessarily money or material things – you can be generous with your time, with your strength, energy and labour, with paying attention and listening to someone. |
EMPATHY | Understanding, compassion | The ability to understand what another person is feeling or going through, or to see things from another’s perspective. To ‘put yourself in someone else’s shoes’. |
RECONCILIATION | Peace, forgiveness, restoration, reunion | Working towards lasting peaceful outcomes for all, solving disputes and disagreements, seeking common ground, making amends for wrong-doing. |
COURAGE | Bravery, strength, integrity | Having integrity and the desire to stand up for what you know to be good or right, facing difficult or dangerous situations with strength and bravery |
APPRECIATION | Thankfulness, gratitude | Gratitude for all those in your life who have helped or supported you, thankfulness for what you have, for food, for the big things and the small acts of kindness, and for the natural world. |