This workshop highlighted the faith-based response and support of the National Strategic Plan on HIV, STIs and TB (NSP). Presentations were given by Brahma Kumaris, info4africa and WCRP.

1. Living With
Dignity & Hope
A Programme for Caregivers and
Individuals Living with Severe Illness
(HIV/AIDS, Cancer, TB, Diabetes,
Depression)

2. Background
 Sub-Saharan Africa - highest rates of
HIV/AIDS – individuals are leaving their
bodies in disillusionment, alone, in anguish,
with feelings of hopelessness and loss of
dignity because of their deep identification of
themselves as the body - appears to be
failing at a time of illness
 Cancer on the increase – affecting every
household
 TB – 3rd
highest in the world in term of TB
burden

3. NSP Strategic Objectives
 Addressing structural, social, economic and
behavioural factors that drive the HIV and TB
prevention epidemics
 Preventing new HIV, STI and TB infections
 Sustaining health and wellness
 Increasing the protection of human rights
and improving access to justice

4. Living with Dignity and Hope
Programme
Modular Self Development programme that
promotes Inner Leadership and Capacity
Building so that individuals can make
behavioural choices based on the understanding
and experience of their dignity and worth
Resultant social and individual behavioural
change can decrease risk behaviours and
together with biomedical and strutural
interventions decrease disease burden
I am responsible, We are responsible, SA is
taking responsibility

5. Living with Dignity and Hope
Programme
 Stigma – How am I responding to stigma and
discrimination? The vision I hold of myself
dictates the world’s vision of me – I cannot change
how others see me but I am in control of how I see
myself
 Human Rights – If I believe in and claim my right
to human dignity , then others will respect this
right
 Poverty – major contributor to poor health –
“poverty of the spirit” based on false external
identification – “where there is a feeling of lack
there will always be lack”
 Valuing my self and worth as a contributing
member of society improves adherence thus
sustaining health and wellness

6. Living with Dignity & Hope
 Experiential programme - originally created with
the aim to support healing and wellbeing for
individuals diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and cancer,
but has since also been identified to support wider
audiences who need wellbeing – be it physically,
emotionally or spiritually.
 A modular experiential programme, using spiritual
tools of listening, creativity, relaxation,
visualisation, appreciation, meditation and
reflection
 Ideally a weekend retreat, alternatively a one day
workshop or 5 session seminars

7. Learning Objectives
 Self-Awareness – encouraging individuals to
become aware of their subconscious feelings,
emotions, attitudes, beliefs and perceptions – so
that they can begin to understand themselves,
release and let go of pathological thinking patterns
that may be aggravating their disease, and begin
to heal with understanding
 To encourage a balanced healthy physical lifestyle
 To introduce individuals to concepts of reflection,
journaling and self-appreciation necessary for
emotional healing
 To help individuals re-identify themselves as
immortal spiritual beings and reassess their
relationship with the Higher Source (which can be
challenged during ill health) but which is vital to
holistic wellbeing

8. The Unique Value of this
Programme:
A Spiritual Dimension to health and
wellbeing, to “Living” with Dignity and
Hope
An experiential approach
In a healing and nurturing
environment where individuals can
experience their dignity and worth

9. Pilot
 10/09/11 the Department of Health and the
Brahma Kumaris hosted a workshop at White
Hall, France for community care givers of the
impoverished community of France,
Pietermaritzburg, where HIV/AIDS is
prevalent
 About 24 caregivers attended
 were very emotional as they acknowledged
negative feelings they had been harbouring
for months, some for even a life time!

10. Pilot Testimonials
 I have learnt a lot. I have learnt about Who I am? I need
to forgive those who have hurt me and look to and create
my future.
 I learnt that I choose how I wish to lead my life. Every
morning I will pray to God and visualize a healthy healed
me. I now understand myself and I have healed.
 I have learnt to understand other people and respect
them. I need to apologize to those whom I have hurt and
live in harmony with all in my community.
 I learnt a lot from this workshop and I wish we have
more. I have learnt that no one can take my happiness
away. I do have the power to do the things in my life
inside of me. I am more than a conqueror – Khanyisile
Mkhize
 I am now empowered with self knowledge and inner
strengths, greater understanding of dealing with
emotions. The workshop was most uplifting and I gained
an awareness of the power within. I have learnt to deal
with negativeness. I am now glowing with inner spiritual
light and acknowledge the light in others.

11.  I have learnt that I need to make peace with myself to be
healthy, and I need to make peace with others who have
made me angry. I have learned to let go of hatred, to
forgive and forget. I am unique and I have learnt about
whom I am – my inner part is more important than the
outer part – Thandi Sithole
 I have learnt that I need to make peace with someone to
keep away the stress and I must share love and peace. I
need to take care of myself to take care of others –
Rosemary
 I feel free in my heart and now feel like I have dignity
and hope in my life and the good spirit to enjoy myself. I
am now more self-confident in my feelings; I will share
this with others
 I have burnt my hate, my heart is now light and I believe
in myself.
 My heart was dirty and my heart is clean now and I am
happy.

14. Retreat 25th
-27th
May 2012
 The Brahma Kumaris and Willowton Group held a 2
and a half day retreat of insights and inspirations
for facilitators and carers of individuals living with
severe illness i.e. HIV/AIDS and Cancer
 25 carers and cancer survivors needing healing
from all parts and social backgrounds of
Pietermaritzburg, the participants included Dr May
Mkhize, the first lady of KZN, and Ward Councillors
Desmond Nkuna and Numsa, nuns, nurses,
teachers, a principal, an old age home nurse
manager, 2 pastors, youth leaders, staff from the
Society for the Deaf, a physiotherapist and
community leader etc.

26. Testimonials
 I felt spiritually and emotionally the strongest eight
years ago when I was diagnosed with cancer. I overcame
that battle with the love and guidance of God. I
thereafter went into remission and got caught up with
the physical needs of the world and my life and for the
past seven years, I have drifted away spiritually. This
retreat was one of the best and most valuable decisions I
have made. It has helped me to get connected again, to
find tools within myself to start this journey, to centre
myself and my thoughts in everyday life. Through
meditation I realized that I'm in control of my life. To
care and love others, I understand I have to be strong
spiritually and emotionally so that I can share the
strength with my loved ones. Thank you for taking the
time to hold my hand and take me through this journey!
– Kumaren Moodley
 This has been a tremendous experience, a powerful tool
to empower and understand myself as a soul. This has
strengthened my way of looking at life in general and
myself in particular. It is also a powerful tool to connect
correctly with God. I will continue to empower myself
through meditation – Desmond Nkuna

27.  This retreat has truly been an eye opener. I have
connected with my emotional and spiritual self and
I now see life from a new point of view. I have
learnt more about meditation and the power of the
spiritual being and this has recharged me –
Sithembile Ngubane
 I have learnt that everything starts with me. I
have to find peace, love and joy inside so that I
can give this out to other people. This will help me
a great deal with my personal problems and
provide tools to help others especially the children
I work with. I have also learnt the wonderful tool
of meditation. It will help me to be calm and
peaceful inside – Ntombi Mvelase

28. 5 Session Seminars
 May and June 2012, the programme had been
conducted as part of a 5 session series at
Glenwood library every fortnight and there is a
group of 15 souls who took deep benefit and
eagerly attend each session. A soul who is breast
cancer survivor stated that the benefit has been
unimaginable for her – she is now so free and
content and sleeps better at night and feels so
uplifted and positive about herself – whereas
before she had been struggling with very low self-
esteem and mood.

31. Work with NGO - PUSH
 We conducted a series of three 2 day
workshop in June & July for all 90 staff from
an NGO called PUSH (Persevere Until
Something Happens).
 The staff included social workers,
psychologists, counsellors and community
caregivers who care for individuals living
with HIV/AIDS, many of whom were infected
with HIV themselves, had been raped, and
were living with severe social stressors
themselves.

32. Living with Dignity and Hope
in Howick, 21st July 2012
 One-day workshop for about 20 caregivers from the
communities around Howick – the participants included
counsellors, community caregivers, a pastor and the First
Lady Dr Mkhize.
 The conversations were very deep and everyone took great
benefit from the day. The pastor shared that this programme
is much needed at all levels – teachers also need this deep
healing.
 The participants felt so light and free of the burdens they
were carrying, that they remained behind after the workshop
wanting to express their deep gratitude and longing that we
would have more of such workshops. They expressed that
the workshop left them positive and enthusiastic and
empowered to look forward to the future, that was in their
hands to create! On meeting a participant 2 months later,
she shared how since she had chosen to release and let go of
all the emotions she had been carrying all her lifetime, she
has never felt better and she is now living!

36. GPH, 17th
November 2012
Preparation:
Ex-Ward Councillor
Letters of Invite to Local Societies,
temples, churches, CCG and Ward
Committee Members, Local media
sources

37. Testimonials
 The main benefit I take back with me is to
know more about myself, deeply. I enjoyed
the session on spiritual wellbeing. I must
start to be honest with myself and practice
what I preach. I will tell the community
about this program and advice the
community to be part of this program. The
facilitation was excellent. – Puseletso Sithole
 I have learnt to leave the past, throughout
and to forgive the past. I will discuss with the
community all that I have learnt here –
Princess (Community Care Giver)

38.  I loved the academic and practical experience
of spiritual and emotional healing. I will
reinforce my practice to realise myself as
unconditional love. I really enjoyed the
session on spiritual wellbeing. I will focus on
my meditation to cleanse and purify my mind.
I will use the tools in my work – Ramesh
Ramkumar
 I feel well empowered and enriched. I
enjoyed the session on emotional and
spiritual well being. I will try and empower
others in the community using this tool –
Rabi Gobind
 I take back peace. I really enjoyed the group
discussions. I will practice meditation to
experience peace – Lenny Chetty

39.  I came to find ways to cope with my husband
who has Alzheimer’s since 2009 as I am his
main caregiver. I have learnt to keep
reminding myself of what a powerful,
spiritual and everlasting being each of us is
and never to be depressed over my current
situations. I enjoy the case senarios. I will
look at ways in which I can take this program
to the community organisations. I have
benefited a great deal – Tulesi Pather
 I have learnt to be the detached observer
when old hurts surface. I enjoyed the session
on spiritual well being. I would love to share
these ideas with women who are unhappy in
their circumstances – Saaleha Vadachia

40. Residential Retreat: 25-27 Jan 2013
Global Peace House, Durban
 Attended by 30 participants – 17 of which
were from the informal settlements of Sims
Place, Mt Royale and Mt Moraiye
 Some CTGs, Youth ambassadors, community
leaders and teachers, nurses, individuals
interested in community upliftment

41. Testimonials
 I feel so relaxed – my body feels healthier,
the pain in my leg is gone, and I am
motivated, it is not important what others
think of me but how I see myself – If I take
care of myself first and know who I am and
understand my worth and my dignity, I will
be able to take care of others – Putsoletso
Sithole – President of ANC Womens League,
Ward 34

53. International
 Costa Rica
- young cancer sufferers
accepting chemotherapy better
- HIV/AIDS patients taking
deep benefit
 Poland

54. Modules - Aims
 Self-Awareness: To allow the participant to
become aware of their thoughts, feelings, words
and actions as a consequence of the journey
through illness
 To enable the participant to release and let go of
their feelings. Possible tools: Dialogue and Sharing
(the listener practices active listening,
understanding that the sharing is not about them,
but it is about the one being listened to), SOS,
visualisation and meditation.
 Using appreciative enquiry to enable the
participant to see the impact of their thoughts and
feelings, and consequently to understand that they
can choose to think differently