VIVA! Carefest 2026 Celebrating the People Behind Care, Compassion and Community 6–8 November 2026

VIVA! Carefest 2026 Celebrating the People Behind Care, Compassion and Community 6–8 November 2026 | ITCC, Penampang, Sabah

- September 29, 2026

In every community, there are people who quietly give their time, energy and compassion to care for others. They are family members, professional caregivers, healthcare workers, community supporters and service providers whose contributions often happen away from the spotlight.

VIVA! Carefest 2026 seeks to change that.

Organised by Persatuan Sokongan Penjagaan Sabah (PSPS), the three-day community event will take place from 6 to 8 November 2026 at ITCC, Penampang, Sabah, bringing together caregivers, families, healthcare and service providers, businesses, community organisations and the wider public under one meaningful platform.

With the theme “Meraikan Penjaga, Memperkasa Komuniti”, VIVA! Carefest is built around a simple yet powerful message:

Those who care for others also need to be seen, supported and valued.

Supporting Those Who Care

Persatuan Sokongan Penjagaan Sabah is a registered non-governmental organisation established in Sabah to support people involved in caregiving and community support. Beyond providing information and connection, PSPS seeks to promote greater awareness, recognition and support for caregivers, care personnel, families and the communities they serve.

Caregiving touches almost every family at some point in life, whether through ageing, illness, disability, recovery or increasing dependence on others for everyday care. Yet while attention naturally focuses on the individual receiving care, the person providing that care can sometimes remain unseen.

PSPS was founded on the belief that caregivers should not have to navigate the responsibilities of caring alone.

Its work encompasses recognition of the caregiver's role, access to information and support, community awareness, healthy ageing and ageing in place, as well as stronger connections between caregivers, families, service providers, businesses and the wider community.

The organisation also seeks to support the welfare, development and professional growth of trained care and community support personnel, while encouraging training, career development and employment opportunities within the care and community support sector.

Three Days of Connection & Community

VIVA! Carefest 2026 will unfold across three distinctive days, beginning with an evening dedicated to partnership and support.

6 November 2026 | Fundraising Gala Dinner

The programme opens with a fundraising gala dinner bringing together community leaders, corporate partners, supporters and invited guests in support of PSPS and its work with the caregiving community.

The evening provides an opportunity to recognise the importance of caregiving while creating meaningful partnerships around a cause that touches families across generations.

7–8 November 2026 | VIVA! Carefest

The following two days will transform ITCC into a platform for exhibitions, talks, activities and community engagement.

Visitors and families will have the opportunity to discover information, services, products and resources connected to care, health, wellbeing and living well, while caregivers can connect with organisations and individuals who understand the realities of their journey.

More Than an Event

VIVA! Carefest is envisioned as more than a conventional exhibition. It is designed as a meeting point between caregivers and families, communities and service providers, and people seeking support and those equipped to provide it.

Through the event, PSPS hopes to begin a wider conversation about how Sabah can recognise, support and strengthen the people who care for others.

Among its key objectives are to:

Give greater recognition and visibility to caregivers.
Raise public awareness of caregiving and its growing importance.
Connect caregivers and families with useful information, services and resources.
Encourage healthy ageing and ageing in place.
Bring organisations, businesses and communities together around the needs of those who give and receive care.
Build a stronger and more supportive caregiving community in Sabah.

A Vision for a Caring Sabah

At the heart of PSPS is a vision of “A Sabah where caregivers are recognised, supported and valued, and where individuals and families have access to a caring and connected community throughout the journey of care.”

It is a vision that places dignity, connection and human wellbeing at the centre of community development.

As Sabah's population and families navigate the evolving realities of ageing, healthcare and caregiving, initiatives such as VIVA! Carefest create an important space for conversations that extend beyond medical care. They bring attention to the emotional, social, professional and community dimensions of looking after another human being.

Ultimately, caregiving is not simply about providing assistance. It is about dignity, patience, connection and the shared responsibility of building a community where nobody has to care alone.