RISE UBUNTU NETWORK

who WE ARE

Our name , RISE is short for Revivers of Indigenous Spirituality and Ecosystems. We cannot do it alone. UBUNTU means I am because we are. RISE UBUNTU brings the two concepts together. Those of us reviving the lands on which we live are doing this for and with each other. A single village or community will be swept away by the sea. We are building the cells of the earth. Each cell must be healthy beside every other cell and they must heal each other. RISE UBUNTU Network, is closely in keeping with the United Religions Initiative which is to bridge differences between people of all beliefs, to create community, and to engage in solving local and global challenges.

This togetherness includes Indigenous groups from the North, South, East, West and the Diasporas. Not all will manifest among us immediately, but the opening will be waiting to welcome these people who share our indigenous perspectives, regenerating the earth, sustainability education and creating fair social and economical structures.

our story

RISE formed in December 2014 and has since merged with UBUNTU project to give birth to a new vision of RISE UBUNTU Network. RISE was formed during a Summit Gathering of the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN), held in the old fishing village of Yoff, Dakar, Senegal under a sacred baobab tree. The occasion for creating the circle was an invitation to members of GEN, who also were indigenous cultural leaders. It is a multiregional, United Religions Initiative (URI) member organisation, made up of indigenous cultural and spiritual leaders and their supporters, dedicated to building living heritage centers and local community organisations to protect their culture, wisdom, healing methodologies and the integrity of their traditions and ecosystems.

OUR GOAL

To preserve and recover our endangered indigenous traditions and ecosystems.

WE AIM TO

Give voice to Indigenous communities and showcase the already existing community transformation where indigenous wisdom and culture has helped to protect the ecosystems, whilst preserving and recovering our endangered indigenous traditions.
Make our voices heard by government officials, school systems and local and global partners
Create written and film documentation, support leaders and grassroots practitioners in preserving the indigenous wisdom and healthy ecosystems for future generations.
Promote sacred activism in counteracting previously forced conversions to inappropriate modern religions. Working through positive partnerships, events and meetings, ending racism, including unconscious and internal racism.
Advocate for climate change and accepting and honoring the beautiful sacred sites of racial groups and beliefs not previously accepted, inlcuding visiting and supporting their local communities, and regenerative education focusing on greening the earth, improving the economy, culture and worldview.
Work with immigrants - in Europe and Africa (and else where in the world), to empower them with skills and sustainability education, for when possible to go back and rebuild in their countries of origin and to encourage them not to immigrate.
Promote the spirit of Pan Africanism, and similar togetherness of the other continents, bringing together project leaders while building strong lasting relations, healing and reconciliation between the Northern and Southern countries.
Build new learning centers and provide support to already existing ones; and create meeting spaces for exchange of knowledge and project development both physical and visually.
Support women and youth development, through ecotourism, entrepreneurship, sustainable education and climate justice.