From October 12 to 17, 2025, the Padre Pio Retreat Centre in Pretoria hosted more than 40 religious sisters and priests from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, and Lesotho for an intensive week of formation on human trafficking. The event was organized by Talitha Kum International in collaboration with the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) and the Leadership Conference of Consecrated Life South Africa (LCCLSA).Inspired by the theme “Consecrated Leadership on Mission Against Human Trafficking,” the program combined moments of spirituality, study, reflection, and sharing of good practices. It aimed to strengthen the existing Talitha Kum South Africa network and to establish new national networks in Botswana, Eswatini, and Lesotho. This collaborative effort reinforced regional ties and expanded Talitha Kum’s presence and impact across Southern Africa.

The key focus was the strengthening of servant leadership and collaborative networking, highlighting both the care for victims and for those who serve in this mission. The topic of protection and public advocacy was further developed through reflections on the importance of psychosocial support, the promotion of human rights–based policies, and engagement with governments and civil society to give voice to those who are exploited. In response, they proposed concrete actions such as safe shelters, legal and psychosocial assistance, skills training, and stronger regional networking to promote the protection and reintegration of survivors.