MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

Working in the automotive industry gets a whole lot better

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The Ford Struandale Engine Plant earned two accolades at the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber (NMBBC) 2015 Health and Wellness Awards in recognition of its far-reaching community projects.

2015 Ford Wellness Award
2015 Ford Wellness Award

Ford received the Special Award in the Wellness Innovation category, which recognised the success of Ford’s high-impact community projects over the past year.

This included the numerous projects conducted as part of Ford’s Global Week of Caring, held in September each year, which saw shipping containers being converted into housing units, kitchens and multi-purpose community centres.

It also featured the company’s initiatives for the annual Mandela Day in July, which involved employees revamping dwellings for impoverished residents, and manufacturing 67 cots and beds for local charities and crèches – all produced from scrap materials. Employees also donated mattresses and bedding to this cause.

“We’re extremely proud to receive the Wellness Innovation award, as it acknowledges the unwavering commitment of our employees to find clever solutions to the problems facing poor communities in Port Elizabeth,” says Thabo Masete, HR Manager for the Ford Struandale Engine Plant.

“The need is always much greater than the available funding for these projects, but the container project in particular shows how creative and affordable solutions can be found. The converted containers that have been donated have transformed peoples’ lives, and Ford is busy converting even more containers to extend the project further.”

Aside from the Wellness Innovation award, Serano Vardy, a wellness counsellor at the Struandale Engine Plant, received a runner-up certificate in the Wellness Champion category for his tireless efforts to drive the Eastern Cape Provincial Peer Educators programme.

The awards formed part of the Business Chamber’s Health Summit held in Port Elizabeth in October, which focused on healthy eating habits. It featured doctors and professors from around the world, including Professor Tim Noakes, author of ‘The Real Meal Revolution’ and the low-carbohydrate diet.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.