Trading Up, Ubuntu-style

By Telana Simpson

Ubuntu  - together were are more than we are apart – is being put to the test by two South Africans without cash.

In Johannesburg three years ago I started trading a single matchstick into an office through a series of trades, where each barter gets bigger and bigger in value, until my final trade which will be for office space. I plan to use the offices to help other start-up entrepreneurs get their business off the ground, and create more jobs for South Africa.

Adin from Cape Town is doing an “experiment in abundance”.  He is living without cash for 5 years, and is 6 months into his adventure. He trades and barters his time for what he needs and offers brands a unique opportunity which he calls “authentic advertising and meaningful marketing”. Brands who support Adin by offering their products/services free of charge will benefit from the exposure to his friend and fans. Over the next 5 years he will not only be living without cash, but will be giving away R555 555 555.55 that he creates through his story to people, organisations and projects that are making a difference in South Africa.

Both of us believe in ubuntu and each step in our stories requires others to get involved. I have got to my tenth trade thanks only to the people who made me offers and traded with me.  Adin has survived so far because of the people who have gifted him or bartered with him for what he needs. We are both benefiting from those people who have spoken about us to others, thus helping us connect with more people.

Cashless ubuntu is all about perceived value and showing people that you can get what you want without using cash. It just takes a different, creative attitude followed by action, and the interaction of people. Our ability to add value and create results isn’t determined by the amount of money that we have (or lack there of). There is another way. “No matter who you are, where you are or what you have you can add value to another” says Adin.

I experienced the power of cashless ubuntu coupled with action when I attended a Netweb event and entered my onematchstick story into the Netweb Headstart competition to help grow small business in South Africa . The prize was to have R50 000 video made about my project, sponsored by Missing Link, the world’s no.1 presentation strategy company. My participation in the competition has led to a lot of new connections and opportunities, including my ninth and tenth trades. The video premieres  in Johannesburg on 15th November and Cape Town on the 25th November, where Adin will be the guest speaker. We will be sharing our stories to inspire others to apply cashless ubuntu in their lives, and thus make much more possible in their lives.

What started off as a personal challenge for me, has turned into something far greater, and more exciting, as I experience ubuntu with action and am touched by how connected we are, and how generous people are. Umuntu umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu (“a person is a person through (other) persons”).

To experience cashless ubuntu and attend the onematchstick movie premieres and meet the ‘matchstick girl, Telana and the cashless dude, Adin, see www.onematchstick.co.za for details.