“Seriti,” embodies the spirit of ‘care’ in Southern African languages. Found in Sesotho and Setswana, Seriti refers to a person’s aura, presence, or dignity, emphasizing that every individual has intrinsic worth deserving of respect and honour. It aligns with our vision to elevate care and care justice as our core contribution to social justice, placing people, their humanity, value, and desires at the heart of everything. Our conversations with our partners, staff and Board as we developed this new strategy, consistently pointed us to the people of our region and continent – centring their lives, realities and struggles and the need to place them at the centre of our work.

Seriti encourages care: Uplifting and supporting one another, promoting community and shared responsibility, linking personal well-being to the community’s well-being. Like Ubuntu, Seriti promotes empathy, compassion, and care, while emphasizing individual dignity and respect, encapsulating the fundamental spirit of care in many southern African cultures.