“Ubuntu” is a South African word that connotes humanity. Africans embrace it as a way of life and Nelson Mandela, who led his nation to freedom and equality in a post-apartheid South Africa undergirded the revolution using “ubuntu” as a philosophy. It encompasses all our aspirations about how to live life well and how to treat ourselves and other people with the dignity they deserve, regardless of race, creed or colour. It embraces our differences and celebrates them. “Ubuntu”, with all its cultural connotations of living well and living positively is for me, a mantra for Positive Education, and all that we seek to do at SPEN.

Positive Education is the application of the science of positive psychology and related fields within an educational setting to help students, staff, schools, universities, corporations and communities to flourish. SPEN’s focus is on enhancing well-being and strength of character through the teaching and practice of specific skills within a learning ecosystem. Within the work setting, we want to grow responsible leaders who work towards staff engagement and growth through attention to care, agency, mindfulness as well as purposeful and meaningful work.

SPEN is aspirational. No matter if you are an educator, parent or member of the community in a school, polytechnic, university, private institution or organisation, please join hands with us. From Singapore, we hope to share best practices, research, stories and resources so that all in the region can benefit from the collective wisdom of Positive Education practitioners and teachers around the world. Let’s inspire each other to action, so that we can bring about thriving communities that positively impact our world and enhance our common humanity.
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