About Us
The Novalis Ubuntu Institute was founded in Durban in 1983 by Dr. Ralph T. Shepherd and a group of conscious friends with the purpose of making a creative contribution to the educational, social and cultural challenges of our times. The Institute is named after the German poet, philosopher and geologist Friedrich von Hardenberg (1772-1801) who [...]
Mission and Purpose
The Novalis Ubuntu Institute is an educational non-profit organization dedicated to recognizing, honoring, and nurturing the unique gifts, talents, and inner resources that every person was born with. Through educational programmes inspired by the teachings of Rudolph Steiner, that teach and disseminate the universal spiritual values embodied in the African…
Donate Now
Support the Novalis Ubuntu Institute and help fulfill its mission to awaken the best of the Ubuntu Spirit. Your tax-deductible gift to the nation’s most trusted source for holistic studies will help: Strengthen Novalis Ubuntu’s health, wellness, and body-mind-spirit programs, Create major new initiatives to inspire individual and social change…
Adult Education Classes
Every year, hundreds of people come to Novalis Ubuntu to further their personal and professional development through our courses and workshops, recurring events, conferences, and retreats.
If you are looking to bring new inspiration into your life—whether you are in business, the healing professions, education, or a nonprofit organization—many of our workshops can serve your needs. Our faculty is composed of facilitators, teachers, leaders and innovators in the areas of body, mind and spirit, health and healing, creativity and play, relationships and family, leadership and community, and sustainable living. Some of our faculty include: Natalia Baker, John Homewood, Rolene Sher, Gabriel Gonsalves, Cat Glennie, Mark Bind, Avril Jason, and many more.
For a complete listing of upcoming events please visit our calendar.
Outreach Developmental Programmes
For Children
Our Orphan and Vulnerable Children Support Pogramme (OVC) supports children and adolescents who are orphaned, vulnerable or abandoned as a result of poverty, abuse or from the high incidents of death due to HIV/AIDS in their communities. In South Africa there is no benefit available for unemployed people living with AIDS. People living with AIDS can only access a grant once their CD 4 count is 200 by which time they are too sick to care for their children. Traditionally, family members...
For Youth
In its continuous effort to advocate the Ubuntu principles into community life through Ubuntu Leadership practices, The Novalis Ubuntu Institute designed an Advanced Youth Leadership and Mentoring Training Program with the intention of enhancing the leadership skills of youth leaders 18-35 years old who are already actively involved in community work. The primary objective of the Program is to develop Youth Leaders into future community leaders who will make a positive and creative contribution...
For Educators and Caregivers
Developing A Chance for Every Child Novalis-SOFIA Programme 1. Main Project – A Chance for Every Child Purpose of the project. To strengthen the capacity of civil society and local community to uphold their rights, address their problems and take advantage of their opportunbities by - holding politicians and authorities accountable - strengthening local networks and cooperation - strengthening links between local civil society...
