A Journey of Values, Learning and Connection: VIHASA KwaZulu-Natal

On 16 April, 42 individuals — including 32 transdisciplinary professionals, 6 facilitators and 4 support staff — gathered at Selborne Golf Estate in KwaZulu-Natal for four days of learning, reflection, connection and transformation.

Participants travelled from five countries: Botswana, Mozambique, Eswatini, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Within South Africa, six provinces were represented: Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Western Cape.

The diversity of the group was reflected not only in where people came from, but also in the professions and life experiences they brought with them. Participants included professionals from education, community development, health — including nursing, counselling, social work and allied health — human rights, law, engineering, IT, commerce and the arts.

Beginning the Journey

Many participants arrived with some uncertainty about what the four days would bring. Others had already explored the VIHASA website, vihasa.org, in depth before deciding to attend.

As the training unfolded, a clearer understanding emerged of the evolution of VIHASA — from its origins as a face-to-face support programme for healthcare practitioners, to a transdisciplinary programme embracing professionals across sectors, strengthened by an online presence following COVID-19.

What began as a gathering of individuals from different professions and countries gradually became a shared journey.

Day One: Rediscovering Inner Values

The first day immersed participants in the Inner Values module.

The day invited deep personal reflection around our core values and the fundamental question:

“Who am I in all that I do?”

For many participants, this became a profound experience of reflection and healing. They began to recognise how far they had sometimes drifted from the values and qualities that mattered most to them.

As the day progressed, there was a visible shift. A renewed sense of purpose began to emerge, along with enthusiasm for the professions and roles that had originally inspired participants to serve others.

The experience reminded us that reconnecting with our inner values can help us reconnect with the meaning behind our work.

Day Two: Exploring the Seven Spiritual Tools

The second day introduced participants to the seven spiritual tools of VIHASA.

Rather than simply learning about the tools, participants experienced them for themselves. They then began working in pairs to design sessions that they would later facilitate.

This experiential approach encouraged participants to move from being learners to becoming facilitators — exploring how the tools could be shared with others in meaningful and practical ways.

The day concluded with a visit to Pennington Beach, providing colleagues from landlocked regions with an opportunity to experience the restorative power of nature.

It was also a reminder that self-care can take many forms, and that reconnecting with nature can offer a simple but powerful space for renewal.

Day Three: Learning Through Facilitation

On the third day, participant-led facilitation took centre stage.

Working in pairs, participants facilitated sessions from the Teamwork module, putting their learning into practice and discovering the power of learning within community.

The level of creativity and innovation demonstrated by the participants was remarkable and deeply appreciated by the trainers.

The day culminated in a particularly moving experience: the “Tunnel of Virtues.”

Each participant walked through a corridor formed by their peers, while others softly shared the virtues they recognised and appreciated in that person.

It was a powerful experience of being seen, valued and acknowledged by others.

An Evening of African Celebration

The evening brought a different kind of learning — through song, dance and the vibrant rhythms of African drums.

The celebration captured the spirit of a truly African experience, bringing together participants from different countries and backgrounds through music, movement and shared joy.

As some participants needed to depart early, the group also celebrated eight colleagues who received their certificates as qualified VIHASA trainers.

Their achievement marked an important milestone in the growing VIHASA journey across the region.

Day Four: Reflection and Looking Forward

The final day created space for reflection, integration and addressing the questions that had emerged throughout the training.

Importantly, the KwaZulu-Natal training also sparked meaningful dialogue about the future identity of VIHASA, including the possibility of renaming the Values in Healthcare Association of South Africa to better reflect its increasingly transdisciplinary and Africa-wide identity.

The discussion reflected how much the organisation and its programmes have evolved — and how the VIHASA journey is no longer confined to one profession, one sector or one country.

From Training to Action

The training concluded with clear and actionable plans across the regions represented.

Beyond the formal learning, something equally important had developed: relationships.

Strong friendships were formed, new connections established and meaningful partnerships for future collaboration began to emerge.

Professionals who had arrived from different countries, provinces, professions and backgrounds left with a shared language of values, a deeper understanding of themselves and one another, and a commitment to take the learning back into their own communities and workplaces.

This Is Only the Beginning

The KwaZulu-Natal training was more than a four-day programme.

It was a meeting of people, professions, cultures and ideas. It demonstrated the potential of a transdisciplinary approach to values-based work and highlighted the growing possibilities for VIHASA across Africa.

From inner values to spiritual tools, from teamwork to facilitation, from the beach to the Tunnel of Virtues, from African drums to new partnerships — each part of the experience contributed to a journey of learning, connection, self-discovery and renewal.

The relationships formed and the plans developed during these four days provide a strong foundation for what comes next.

This is only the beginning.