Kwendalo Institute

The Kwendalo Institute

The Kwendalo Institute is reimagining education as a dynamic process of learning that promotes wellness, interconnectedness, and harmony with life.

At Kwendalo, we possess a genuine passion for acquiring and sharing knowledge that is in service to life, and which has harmony and health at the core of that emergent wisdom. We wish to enable diverse citizens, especially our youth, to become leaders in co-creating a regenerative future.

Kwendalo Institute on Twitter

Promoting harmony in education and wellbeing through nature-inspired learning and experience.

Kwendalo Institute @kwendalosa ·

19 Dec

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Kwendalo Institute @kwendalosa ·

17 Dec

Our Institute director Dr. Matthew Zylstra was recently interviewed by Keystone Expeditions at a stunning sunset location just minutes from Kwendalo re the art of finding everyday connection & wellbeing within the context of Keurbooms estuary’s ecology.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDe4zzqtvHX/?igsh=MXdyYjloaHBjdDQ1NQ==

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The Kwendalo Institute is therefore creating and implementing nature-inspired learning that promotes:

Harmony within Self: nurturing the curiosity, capabilities, and wellbeing of people at the centre of their learning.
Harmony within Society: recognising the interdependency of our relations and the actions that we can all undertake in support community and planetary health.
Harmony within Nature: nourishing a deeper embodied connection with place, enabling learners to experience kinship with life while cultivating meaningful regenerative relationships with earth.

We are aspiring toward these outcomes through formal education and curricula, gap-year learning journeys, workshops and training, and explorative research.

The Kwendalo Institute is bringing the philosophy of The Harmony Project to schools and courses around Plettenberg Bay and, in time, across South Africa. The Kwendalo Institute is home to Africa’s first international Harmony Project initiative.

We are aspiring toward these outcomes through three main focus areas

Education & Curricula:

Formative: Implementing The Harmony Project’s nature-inspired approach to learning in local and regional schools around Plettenberg Bay and, in time, across South Africa. The Kwendalo Institute is home to Africa’s first international Harmony Project initiative.
Graduate: Facilitating an immersive gap-year programme that focuses on philosophical foundations, personal growth and essential practical skills for living a wholesome life.
Postgraduate: Delivering tertiary level learning around the wellness dimensions of planetary health (incl. nature connection, biomimicry, and regenerative agroecology)

Workshops & Training:

Nature Referrals / Green Prescriptions (NRx): Developing a dedicated 5–6-week programme for health professionals to assist with the “social prescribing” of nature.
Nature Connectedness & Wellbeing: Facilitating “connection essentials” workshops with theory and core practices for psycho-social health & wellbeing.
Kwendalo Signature Courses: Offering short introductory experiences into aspects of Kwendalo expertise: harmony training; regenerative ecology; and wellness treatments.

Research (Impact Driven):

Wellness Impact: Testing the potential (opportunities + challenges) & effectiveness of a “Nature Referrals” programme in the local/regional context.
Learning Impact: Assessing the ongoing impact of Kwendalo Institute learning programmes with a focus on The Harmony Project
Regenerative Impact: Monitoring the ongoing ecological restoration of the Kwendalo Estate (e.g. changes in biodiversity, water quality, vegetation cover)

The Harmony Centre

The Harmony Centre at Kwendalo is the home of The Harmony Project in South Africa and is our shared hive for learning events and workshops that create a buzz of curiosity and pollinate new ideas within our community.

The Harmony Centre is equipped with conferencing facilities available for hire.