Why we are called Ubuntu
Ubuntu Canarias · 3 min read
Ubuntu is a word from several Bantu languages of southern Africa. It is usually explained with one sentence, “I am because we are”, and it means that nobody makes it alone: who we are also depends on the people around us. When we looked for a name for the association we wanted something that said that, and we could not find anything better.
Ubuntu Canarias was born in Gran Canaria in the summer of 2026 to inform, guide and accompany migrants and their families. Those of us who make it up come from different backgrounds, and several of us know migration first-hand.
Arriving somewhere new brings many questions at once. The same person may have an immigration procedure open, be looking for work and not know how to book an appointment online. Someone else wants to have their studies recognised while looking for a course so they can start working as soon as possible. Each thing has its own office, website and requirements, and it is not always easy to know where to start. That is why we did not want to focus on just one topic. We offer guidance on immigration and international protection, employment, training, digital skills, psychosocial support, intercultural mediation and access to resources.
A large part of our work is informing and referring. In the Canary Islands there are public services and organisations doing very valuable work, and often what is missing is someone to tell you which one is yours, which documents you will be asked for and what steps you need to take. We do not replace the authorities, legal services or other professionals. When a case needs a lawyer or a specialised service, we say so clearly and help find it.
Nor do we see integration as something only the newcomer has to do. A person may arrive looking for work and end up contributing their experience to a company or an association. They may arrive speaking another language and end up acting as a bridge for others. They may arrive needing guidance and, in time, guide others themselves. That exchange is what we want to make easier.
Today the job board and the Ubuntu Empleo group, the free training page, the practical resources on our website and Voces del Mundo, where migrants tell their story in their own words, are already up and running. We will keep growing step by step, as long as we can do it well.
If you want to know the personal story behind the name, our founder tells it in My dream is called Ubuntu.