Hospitality, Hospitableness and Ubuntu in Voluntourism

Abstract

This article aims to investigate the occurrence of alterity and solidarity as founding principles of hospitality and the philosophy and relational ethics called Ubuntu from the experience of Brazilians volunteering in sub-Saharan African countries. Qualitative, exploratory-descriptive research was carried out through semi-structured interviews with voluntourists who had been to South Africa, Ghana, and Kenya. Hospitable characteristics and attitudes were found in the volunteers’ descriptions of how they acted with the community members both in the interactions during the execution of the volunteer work and in other experiences during the trip. Regarding African hospitality, it was noticed an impact caused by residents' joy, happiness, gratitude, and simplicity. Through the observation of learnings, changes in attitudes, and transformations in voluntourists both individually and collectively, it has been understood that living in a community means supporting it through acts of cooperation and mutual respect, which are values present in the spirit of Ubuntu.