On 21 February 2025, I had the opportunity to present City of Ubuntu at the impulse meeting of the Pastoral Office of the World Church of the Archdiocese of Vienna. It was an evening full of meaningful reflections about cultural perceptions, the stereotypes we carry, and—most importantly—the power of genuine encounters.
As I stood before the audience, I asked a simple yet revealing question:
What comes to mind when you think of Africa?
For most, the answers were shaped by the images they had grown up with—media portrayals, school lessons, and familiar narratives. But is that the whole truth? I posed the same question about Europe to young Africans during my travels, and their responses reflected a similarly idealized picture. It became clear to me that perception is often limited by the stories we’ve been told.
That’s why I am so passionate about Ubuntu. Ubuntu—”I am because you are”—is not just a philosophy; it’s a way of life. It teaches us that all people are interconnected and that we share a responsibility for our past, present, and future. Through City of Ubuntu, we strive to embody these principles—not as a one-way exchange of help, but as an equal partnership between City of Ubuntu Austria and City of Ubuntu Cameroon.
During my talk, I shared insights of our projects—like the collaboration between Austrian architects and Cameroonian civil engineers, who are working together to build a teaching and learning center in Cameroon. Or the Ubuntu journey, where Austrian and Cameroonian participants immerse themselves in each other’s cultures, creating bonds that transform perspectives forever.
Beyond the presentation itself, it was wonderful to witness Ubuntu naturally unfolding, even if the participants weren’t aware of it. People shared personal experiences, asked thought-provoking questions, and engaged in open, heartfelt dialogue.
Ubuntu reminds us that growth happens through community. The evening proved that when we come together with curiosity and respect, we create something new, something good.
We especially want to thank Elisabeth Palugyay and the Archdiocese of Vienna for the invitation.
We really enjoyed being there.
