South Africa is often called a melting pot of cultural heritage. Tata Madiba called us his “Rainbow Nation”, and our country has become a passionate place where differences are celebrated and our heritage is what brings us together.

You’ve got to admit, as South Africans, we’re a pretty amazing bunch. With 12 official languages and around 62 million people building our “tribe” every single day, there’s the same number of opportunities to celebrate your own culture and heritage. Let’s take a look at 5 ways you can share your culture and your possibilities.

1. We’re South AfriCANs, not South AfriCAN’Ts

One of our nation’s most resilient features is our love of optimism, equalled only by our national pride – we don’t need much convincing to wear our national rugby jerseys and sing the national anthem at sporting events, now, do we.

And that’s how we roll with everything – we make a plan. Whether we’re building our own businesses or finding new ways to make our families thrive, we’ll always find a plan to propel us forward. That’s why we have a reputation for being so inventive – think dolosse, heart transplants, the vuvuzela and CAT scans, to name but a few South African inventions. And that spirit is what makes legacy-building something we’re growing all the time.

2. Be willing to learn new things

In many South African households, there’s a love of learning – and the encouragement to learn in ways that suit us best – which forms the foundation on which so many families are building their own legacy.

Access to learning resources in real time or online is pivotal to this success. That’s why resources like Telkom Learn and a reliable internet service are so important.

With so many South Africans becoming future-ready by learning and upskilling in any way they can, technology in the form of computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones (fuelled by Telkom contract deals, unlimited data deals and stable network coverage) is changing the way we learn – in cities and rural areas.

3. Make space to share

Many of us are keen to embrace any form of cultural celebration. These are times when we can put our differences aside and make everyone feel welcome. You really can’t beat South African hospitality.

That sense of connection is important to us – and also to Telkom, keeping our nation’s connectivity in the spotlight. Many South Africans work away from home; many more have close family members scattered all over the world, and even more are entrepreneurs who run their small businesses from home. In each case, staying connected is vital, and that’s where working smart by leaning on technology counts.

4. Be part of the connection economy

Doing business in South Africa crosses the cultural divide and unites us in networks that extend beyond the boardroom. Services like Telkom Business and Telkom Yep! turn that canyon of a divide into a ladder you can use to forge relationships, offer services and make your business grow from strength to strength.

5. When we unite, we unite hard!

If you’ve ever been in the comments section on socials when someone (or something) comes for a proud South African, you’ll know that the person throwing the shade often comes off second best.

As South Africans, our heritage is to be proud to be different, and we use those differences to unite behind a team, a person, a principle, or even a cause, and turn the tide. We’re also not afraid to cry together (think of any big rugby match, especially during the national anthem or when we’re winning!).

So it’s no surprise that we use our unity to be the change we want to see in the world and do our part to give back and help causes like the ones supported by the Telkom Foundation.