In a powerful affirmation of compassion as a catalyst for social change, the Optentia research unit at the North-West University (NWU) and the Quality in Nursing and Midwifery (NuMIQ) research focus area co-hosted the hybrid launch of the groundbreaking book, Relational Caring: A Soft Voice in Transforming Society.

The event brought together scholars, practitioners and community leaders from across the globe to reflect on the necessity for empathy and ethical care in transforming communities and institutions.

The book, published by Policy Press in 2025, offers a profound exploration of relational caring and the theory of presence. It challenges conventional care models by emphasising deep, attentive and ethically grounded relationships between caregivers and those they support, especially individuals in vulnerable or marginalised circumstances.

The launch featured opening remarks by Prof Jaco Hoffman, who heads up the Ageing and Generational Dynamics programme of the Optentia research unit, recognising the importance of the book’s contribution to care ethics, social work, theology and healthcare education.

Prof Andries Baart, extraordinary professor at Optentia, founder of the presence theory and a globally respected scholar in theology and philosophy, shared reflections on the book’s core message: the transformative potential of presence – being with, listening and staying in connection – as a quiet but powerful force for social change.

Dr Guus Timmerman from the Netherlands co-authored the book but unfortunately could not join the launch. He highlighted how the book is rooted in over three decades of practice-based research across Europe and South Africa.

The programme included two discussants, one from practice and the other from the teaching and learning context of the university. Dr Rayne Stroebel, the founder and managing director of GERATEC, a South African company, focused on helping older people live a quality life. Prof Emmerentia du Plessis from NuMIQ provided insight into the value this new book will have for the training of tomorrow’s nursing practitioners.

Several participants shared moving accounts of how the theory of presence had already informed their daily work, especially in contexts where technical competence alone falls short. "This book speaks to what many of us feel but do not always have the words for: the human, relational heart of care," one healthcare practitioner noted. Relational Caring: A Soft Voice in Transforming Society is now available through Policy Press and is expected to become a foundational text for scholars, practitioners and students in the fields of healthcare, social work, theology and ethics.

The launch affirmed the NWU’s position as a leading hub for innovative and socially responsive research on human well-being.

As Prof Baart concluded in his keynote address: “In a world growing louder with efficiency and systems, relational caring offers a soft voice – but one capable of transforming how we live and care together.”

Attendees at the launch of the book, Relational Caring: A Soft Voice in Transforming Society.

Prof Andries Baart