Farm workers honoured for contributions to Khanyisa Wellness Programme
A group of enthusiastic peer educators were honoured for their hard work and dedication to Agri-IQ's Khanyisa Wellness Programme at the organisation's offices in Riverside on March 30.
MALALANE – Agri-IQ, an agricultural development company in partnership with eight farms in the Malelane and Komatipoort area, recently hosted their annual awards ceremony for the Khanyisa Wellness Programme’s peer educators.
The programme consists of a multi-component curriculum focusing on skills to improve agricultural practices, the health and welfare of agricultural employees and increase productivity in the workplace.
The training is theoretical and has an outreach component, supported by the farm management.
The programme started in October 2009 and currently 42 workers, called peer educators, are involved.
Bekfontein farm’s Abigail Sifundza (34) was chosen as the top performing peer educator of 2016. She has been part of the programme since 2015 and consistently produced exceptional work in both the theoretical and outreach components.
Sifundza conducts awareness sessions for fellow farm workers and commented that her effectiveness as a peer educator has been improved due to the support she receives from farm owner André Schoeman and his manager.
“I have a lot of passion when it comes to wellness and sharing information with my fellow farm workers. I feel that there is a lack of information on farms, so the Khanyisa Wellness Programme gives us a platform to discuss health problems and encourage each other to take care of our well-being. We also share the information with our families,” Sifundza said.
Other winners were Constance Thomela and Veli Madonsela from Crookes Brothers, who took the award for best co-peer educators of the year, while Dudu Sifundza from Neos Estate and Musa Mkhathswa from Riverside shared the award for most improved peer educators.
The IE Laurens farms were awarded the certificate for the best attendence.
Nombulelo Luphoko, Rose Sibiya and Joyce Ngomane from Nhlumi and Elizabeth Mhlongo and Sbongile Sitiba from Riverside won the award for effective farm facilitator.
The Khanyisa Programme Facilitator, Antonette Luphoko, commented that “the peer educators and participating farms are being empowered and positive educational change is being seen in the Onderberg through the Khanyisa programme.”
Agri-IQ would like to thank the farms for making the event a success.
