Ubuntu in Action

Exploring the Peace Corps and Shared Humanity

Ubuntu is a word most Returned Peace Corps Volunteers are familiar with. It’s the belief that an individual’s humanity is fostered through their relationships with others, often summarized as “I am because we are.” Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu leveraged Ubuntu during South Africa’s transition from apartheid to democracy emphasizing empathy, collective responsibility and restorative justice.

Last month, the Museum of the Peace Corps Experience (MPCE) launched its first exhibit of 2025, Ubuntu in Action: Exploring the Peace Corps and Shared Humanity, hosted by the International Peace Museum in Dayton, Ohio. This inspiring exhibit delves into the spirit of service, cultural exchange, and the interconnectedness of all people and is the centerpiece of the two museums’ celebration of the Season for Non-Violence accompanied by an engaging series of online and in-person programs running through April.

Exhibition opening visitors observed Ubuntu in the Call to Serve at the International Peace Museum in Dayton, Ohio

The Ubuntu in Action exhibition tells the story of the Peace Corps through portraiture, promotional posters, artifacts from everyday life, and RPCV community action. Portraiture has been central to museums’ collections for centuries because it is a profound medium for storytelling and emotional connection. The photographic and drawn portraits, from a collection of dozens of works by Reggie and Celeste Hodges, give viewers a window into the worlds of both the subject and the artist. The exhibition showcases the artists’ personal reflections on what portraiture meant to them and their subjects illuminating the power of artistic expression and human connection.

Peace Corps promotional posters serve as rich cultural artifacts, encapsulating the evolving mission and values of the organization over its nearly 65-year history. Dozens of themes and media strategies are evident in the MPCE collection of Peace Corps posters. In this exhibit, we have shared only those that reflect the philosophy of Ubuntu emphasizing interconnectedness and shared humanity.

The exhibition also displays artifacts from the daily life of Volunteers along with what many visitors are calling the pièce de résistance of the exhibition, Patchwork of Peace (1990). The nearly 30-foot-long community quilt is a living tapestry of collective memory and cultural expression. Each block stitches together individual narratives transforming fabrics from across the globe into a powerful embodiment of social cohesion. The immensity of the tapestry is evidence of the lasting impact of the Peace Corps and host countries on the volunteers.

The Patchwork of Peace (1990) community quilt stretches 27 feet and is composed of fabrics from across the globe

Ubuntu in Action is not just a historical exhibition—it is a call to action for today. Visitors are invited to participate in an interactive arts project and mingle with RPCVs at events focused on immigration, non-violence, and collective action. This exhibit serves as a reminder that in a world often divided by conflict and misunderstanding, Ubuntu offers a path forward—one rooted in unity, generosity, and the recognition that our fates are intertwined.

MPCE is a museum startup that collects and preserves stories and objects of material culture related to the Peace Corps. Our mission is to harness the power of the Peace Corps legacy to inspire and educate, equipping global citizens with tools for peacebuilding, cross-cultural understanding, and transformative social impact.

MPCE does not have a permanent exhibition space, and relies on important partnerships with hosts like the International Peace Museum to engage new audiences. Learn more support our efforts to bring the collection to audiences across the country here.

Zack Klim, Ph.D., is director of the Museum of the Peace Corps Experience