Early bird by Monday 20 July 2026: R 6999 or R 3999 for panellists

Email training@adr-networksa.co.za for Early Bird registration.

Restorative justice is an expansive system for mending breaches and healing broken relationships within society. At its highest expression, it seeks to create conditions in which all beings have what they need to flourish. It is a justice rooted not merely in punishment or compliance, but in making things right again. In this program, we bring together decades of experience in mediation, restorative justice and conflict transformation to explore how these approaches can help address the limitations of current animal welfare law in protecting the most vulnerable among us: beings who cannot easily articulate their needs or effectively defend themselves against the many forms of abuse, exploitation and neglect to which they may be subjected. Our six-week Advanced Program in Mediation and Restorative Justice in Animal Rights invites participants to reground themselves and recentre themselves in a reverent I–Thou relationship with all of creation, rather than an I–It relationship. Drawing inspiration from the philosophy of Martin Buber and the wisdom traditions of many cultures, we will explore what becomes possible when animals are encountered not as objects, commodities or resources, but as fellow participants in the web of life. Together we will examine the current South African legal matrix governing animals, a framework that remains largely rooted in animal welfare rather than animal rights , and consider pathways for expanding this into a richer and more robust animal rights jurisprudence. Participants will explore how restorative justice principles may assist not only in policy and legal development, but also in the practical handling of disputes involving animals and the human communities connected to them. The programme will equip participants with both philosophical foundations and practical tools for mediating animal-related disputes with wisdom, compassion and creativity. Learning, however, does not happen only in the mind. As part of this six-week journey, participants will be invited to engage in an integrated personal flourishing programme alongside the academic content. An optimised plant-based nutrition programme will be made available to all participants and they will be encouraged to follow this way of eating for the duration of the course. A personal trainer will also develop accessible daily “movement snacks” designed to support strength, mobility and wellbeing. These practices will be adaptable to all bodies and all levels of mobility, ensuring that every participant can engage meaningfully regardless of physical limitation. For six weeks, therefore, we will not only learn how restorative justice can enhance the lives of animals within our homes, communities and legal systems, but we will also embark upon our own journey of health, vitality and embodied flourishing. As we seek to cultivate reverence for all life, we will simultaneously cultivate reverence for our own bodies, our own well-being and our own capacity to contribute meaningfully to the healing of the world. Our hope is that participants will leave this programme not merely better mediators, but more deeply connected human beings - people who carry into their work a renewed sense of wonder, responsibility and kinship with all living beings. And if your life is not better by the end of six weeks…  well, Sheena may just have to eat her hat. Start date: Tuesday 18 August 2026Sessions: 6 x sessions between 6pm and 8pm on TuesdaysDaily: economical and accessible plant based recipes with grocery lists optimised by a nutritionist Daily: 15 min movement snacks designed by a personal trainer and adapted for you personally where neededCost: R 9999 or R 4999 for panellistsEarly bird by Monday 20 July 2026: R 6999 or R 3999 for panellists