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12 October 2020 | Story Xolisa Mnukwa | Photo Supplied
Your kindness is contagious
Counselling psychologist at the university, Nhlori Ngobeni, believes that what you give to others does not necessarily leave your life; it comes back to you in some way or another, for the benefit of your health and well-being.

The month of October has been declared Mental Health Awareness Month, with the objective of not only educating the public about mental health, but also to reduce the stigma and discrimination to which people with mental illness are often subjected.

The COVID-19 global pandemic and the subsequent implementation of the lockdown have had an impact on all aspects of our lives: family, relationships, the economy, educational institutions, health system, to name a few.

As stipulated by the South African Department of Health and the South African Federation for Mental Health, mental-health problems come as the result of a complex interplay between biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors.

With that being said, University of the Free State (UFS) counselling psychologist and writer of the article Ubuntu, Nhlori Ngobeni, explains that the demands of our changing world can become quite overwhelming, leaving one feeling burdened by all the changes they need to make. She reflected on the increased challenges that students have experienced in their academics, physical and mental health, finances, and interpersonal relationships as a result of the pandemic, and how the spirit of Ubuntu can act as a catalyst of support.

Nelson Mandela defined Ubuntu as “the profound sense that we are human only through the humanity of others; that if we are to accomplish anything in this world, it will in equal measure be due to the work and achievement of others”.

Exercising your humanity through actions, words, gestures,
and thoughts can aid the sustenance of humanity.


Benefits of Ubuntu

Ngobeni further elaborated that living out your humanity should not be done to get something in return. She explained the essence and benefits of Ubuntu as the belief that being kind to others is like planting a seed and watering it daily. “It is guaranteed to yield some fruits. What you give to others does not necessarily leave your life; it comes back to you in some way or another, for the benefit of your health and well-being,” she added.

Ubuntu in action
Exercising your humanity through actions, words, gestures, and thoughts can aid the sustenance of humanity.

Here are some ways you can live out your humanity:

Live out your values: showing love; caring for and respecting others; choosing to forgive; having sympathy and empathy; being kind and compassionate.
Acts of service: spending time with others; sharing your knowledge; running an errand for the elderly; making a cup of tea for your parents or organising a movie or games night for your family.
Giving: food, clothes, time, or money.
• Being intentional: being genuine and present in your everyday experiences or encounters. Calling a classmate or friend and checking on them.
• Gestures: greeting, nodding, smiling, waving, etc. … simply acknowledging others.

Visit the Kovsie Life Well-being Warriors page for important telephone numbers and online resources offered by the UFS Department of Student Counselling and Development.

News Archive

Two Kovsies in action for SA Netball Team in Melbourne
2016-10-18

Description: Tanya Mostert Tags: Tanya Mostert

Tanya Mostert will play at senior level for
South Africa for the first time when she
represents the Proteas Fast5 Netball team.
Photo: Johan Roux

Two players from the University of the Free State (UFS) will represent the country in the Fast5 Netball World Series in Melbourne, Australia.
Tanya Mostert and Lauren-Lee Christians will turn out for the Protea Fast5 team on 29 and 30 October. Fast5 is the shorter and faster version of netball.
Mostert was the UFS captain during the Varsity Netball tournament this year, after taking over the reins from her older sister, Karla Mostert. Tanya has to pass a final fitness test since suffering an injury earlier.

Lauren-Lee will captain this team

Christians represented Kovsies before, but this year she was above age to play in the Varsity tournament again. She represented South Africa’s Fast5 team in 2013 and 2014, but will this time be leading her country as captain "Down Under". She also was vice-captain of the Free State Crinums who won the Brutal Fruit Premier League in 2016.
Besides Christians and Mostert, three former Kovsies are also included in the Fast5 Netball team taking part in Melbourne. They are Vanes-Mari du Toit, Marlize de Bruin, and Fikile Mkhuzangwe.

Four national captains from UFS
With Christians’ selection as Fast5 captain, she became the latest of four Kovsies to be chosen as a national netball captain. All four South African teams – the Proteas, Fast5, U21, as well as the South African Universities team, were captained by Kovsies this year.
Maryka Holtzhausen, former UFS captain and currently assistant coach at the university, led the Proteas before suffering a knee injury. Alicia Puren led the SA U21 team, and Karla Mostert was captain of the South African Universities team that won the World Student Games in Miami, in the USA.

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