The Presence Blog

There are moments when you realise that a project has become something much bigger than the idea that first sparked it. What started as a small act of caring in a single ward has grown into an inspiring community engagement initiative that is changing lives, strengthening partnerships, and creating opportunities for meaningful collaboration. From 7–9 July 2026, Dr Annemarie van Wyk and Dr Mariska Oosthuizen-van Tonder proudly presented the Taking HANDS project at the African

On 10 June 2026, our delegation had the privilege of visiting Alexander Monro Hospital in Bilthoven, the Netherlands, the country's first specialist hospital dedicated exclusively to breast cancer care. The visit formed part of our international exchange programme and provided a unique opportunity to explore the philosophy underpinning specialist, person-centred oncology care. The morning began with an engaging discussion led by Marjolein de Jong, who introduced the distincti

As part of our international academic visit to the Netherlands, we had the privilege of visiting Erasmus University Rotterdam on 11 June 2026 to attend the Art of Healing Festival in Rotterdam. The festival provided a unique opportunity to engage with innovative perspectives on healthcare, creativity, compassion, and the human experience of healing. The highlight of our visit was the inspiring presentation by Professor James Thompson from the Manchester Care Lab, who shared i

On 4 June 2026, our delegation of six academics had the privilege of visiting the Presence Foundation in Utrecht, where we participated in a thought-provoking programme exploring meaning-making, spirituality, and religion in mental health nursing. Facilitated by Dr Janneke Weelink, a nurse specialist in mental health care and PhD candidate, the day offered a unique opportunity to reflect on the role of the nurse's inner life in providing compassionate, person-centred care.

On 8 June 2026, a delegation of six academics visited the University of Applied Sciences Utrecht (HU) in the Netherlands as part of an initiative to strengthen international collaboration in nursing education, research, and healthcare. The delegation comprised Professor Tinda Rabie, Dr Kathleen Froneman, Mrs Anna-Therese Swart, and Ms Marcadonatos from the School of Nursing at North-West University (NWU), South Africa, together with Dr Rudo Ramalisa from the University of Pre

On 5 June 2026, our delegation of six academics had the privilege of visiting Tergooi Medical Centre in the Netherlands for an inspiring day of interprofessional learning and collaboration centred on the implementation of presence in healthcare. The visit provided a unique opportunity to observe how the philosophy of presence has been embedded into clinical practice and organisational culture within a modern healthcare setting. The day commenced with a warm welcome from Marie

On 9 June 2026, our delegation of six academics returned to the Presence Foundation in Utrecht for a day dedicated to exploring quality of care, narrative learning, and relational accountability. The programme provided a rich opportunity to examine how stories can be used not only to reflect on practice but also to demonstrate the value and impact of compassionate, person-centred care. The morning commenced with an inspiring presentation by Dr Guus Timmerman, who introduced t

On 3 June 2026, our delegation of six academics had the privilege of visiting Jeroen Bosch Hospital (JBZ) in Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, for a unique exchange programme focused on healthcare ethics, presence, empathy, and reflective practice. The day brought together healthcare professionals from the Netherlands and South Africa to share innovative approaches to compassionate, person-centred care. The programme began with a warm Dutch welcome over coffee and the famous Bo

On 11 June 2026, our delegation of six academics had the opportunity to visit BuurtzorgT at Science Park in Utrecht to learn more about its innovative, relationship-centred approach to community-based mental healthcare. The visit formed part of our international visit programme in the Netherlands and provided valuable insights into how autonomy, trust, and collaboration can transform healthcare delivery. The morning began with a warm welcome over coffee, creating an informal

On 2 June 2026, our delegation of six academics had the privilege of visiting the Antoni van Leeuwenhoek (AVL) Cancer Institute in Amsterdam, one of Europe's leading comprehensive cancer centres. The visit formed part of our international engagement in the Netherlands and provided a valuable opportunity to learn from experts in oncology nursing, ethics, research, and patient-centred care while exploring future opportunities for international collaboration. The programme began