AIDC is very well, thank you

The AIDC Eastern Cape scooped first place in the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Health and Wellness Awards for the Small Enterprise Category which acknowledges best practice in health and wellness in Nelson Mandela Bay at an awards function this morning.

Speaking at the 6th annual Health and Wellness Awards, Dr. Margo de Kooker the chairperson of the Health and Wellness Council at the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, said “it is so difficult to judge good work in communities that is done from the heart” and that health and wellness is “not always the focus but it is so critical.”

Workplace Programmes Manager, Arnelle Heynes said the AIDC EC’s work in wellness had incorporated industrial theatre and the actual development of new industrial theatre groups from within the communities in which they ran programs, as well as partnerships with a range of government and private organizations “where the principle of one plus one equals three”, Heynes said.

Another unique feature of the AIDC’s Workplace Wellness Programme is its development and skilling of peer educators, whom says Heynes “are a sustainable link within the organization, to wellness.” Sibanye, a theatre group formed from a group of peer educators from the Sundays River Citrus Farms Luthando and SRFT (Sundays River Farming Trust), was recognized this morning for their selfless service in the area.

Professor Tim Noakes, guest speaker at the event, congratulated all of the nominees for their continuous endeavors towards better health and wellness.

The AIDC EC’s Wellness team was awarded second place in the Wellness team category, for their continuing support in the development of wellness initiatives in the metro. Margo XXX said “the AIDC has extended their workplace wellness program from the automotive industry to the agricultural industry after identifying the needs in the sector.”

AIDC EC partners in the agricultural wellness programmes were recognized in various categories. Second place in the Big Enterprise category was awarded to the (SRCC) Sundays River Citrus Company with third place going to Luthando Farm and SRFT. First place in the Wellness Champion category went to Zelda van Tonder from the SRCC and Erika Dorfling, from Sun Orange Farms and Sun Citrus Packers was awarded a commendation in this category.

The Health and Wellness Awards are the only awards of its kind nationwide, it has provided companies and NGOs with an opportunity to gain recognition for their best practice health and wellness programs since it was initiated in 2009.

The focus for 2014 was on the excellent work being done in an increasingly challenging environment – and where wellness has been approached in a creative way.

Any business, school, faith-based organization or NGO operating within the Metro was eligible to participate in the Awards.