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Expo promises to keep Bloemfontein healthy and fit

12 February 2020 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Supplied

UFS Health and Wellness Expo Programme

The University of the Free State (UFS) is on a mission to get Bloemfontein fit, in mind, body and soul. The UFS will host its first-ever Health and Wellness Expo on the Bloemfontein Campus from 20-21 February, targeting UFS staff and students as well as the broader Bloemfontein community.

The expo, organised by the Department of Human Resources’ Division for Organisational Development and Employee Wellness, will have four pillars that are underscored by the dimensions of wellness. “These four pillars will be exhibitions, medical screening tests, health talks and exercise sessions,” said Arina Engelbrecht, UFS Employee Wellness Specialist.

Staff, students and visitors will have the opportunity to explore a variety of stalls, learn new approaches of conquering health concerns and enhance their physical fitness and financial wellness, as well as nutrition. This year’s event features highlights such as Buti yoga, which combines jump training (plyometrics), tribal dancing and dynamic yoga asanas. This will be followed by fun, functional training with Ben Zwane, a fitness class suitable for all strength levels ranging from beginners to professional sports people. And if you are interested in a four or eight kilometre run or walk, both options will also be on offer.

Nurturing the Wellness Tree of Bloemfontein

According to Engelbrecht, the goal is to build awareness around the need to live a healthier and a more active life among staff and the broader community. “The expo aims to assist the community in gaining knowledge about various options to lead a healthier life,” she said.

With the theme: Shaping the Wellness Tree of Bloemfontein and granted that the benefits of living a healthier life have been well-researched and documented, the Division hopes the expo will encourage people to lead improved lives that lead to higher levels of engagement and productivity.

For more information contact Arina Engelbrecht at gesal@ufs.ac.za or on +27 83 644 9980.

News Archive

UFS chemist invited by UNESCO to present lecture at World Science Forum in Budapest

2015-12-07

From the left are: Dr Jean-Paul Ngome Abiaga from UNESCO, France; Abdoulaye Ibrahim, also from UNESCO in France; and Truidie Venter, a young scientist from the Department of Chemistry at the UFS.
Photo: Supplied

Dr Truidie Venter, a young scientist from Inorganic Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry at the University of the Free State (UFS), returned recently from presenting a lecture at the 7th World Science Forum, held in Budapest, Hungary. She was one of the few young researchers world-wide who were invited to attend the forum.

In her capacity as a young female researcher from Africa, Truidie was invited by UNESCO to present her views on science in diplomacy at this event. Her talk focused on collaboration between researchers from different countries, and the challenges faced by young researchers in Africa, and served to initiate discussions between young researchers concerning international, interdisciplinary scientific cooperation.

The Science Forum, an international conference dedicated to science and knowledge, was held in Budapest from 4-7 November 2015. This interdisciplinary gathering is supported by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the International Council for Science (ICSU), and other partners, and is aimed at providing an occasion for representatives of science, politics, international organisations, industrial and financial decision makers, international science forums, and science academies to meet and exchange views.

More than nine hundred delegates from 108 countries took part in this event. The speakers included Her Royal Majesty Princess Sumaya Bint El Hassan, President of the Royal Scientific Society of Jordan, Dr Irina Bokova, the Director-General of UNESCO, Prof Sir Peter Gluckman, first Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Prof Ene Ergma, former President of the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament), and Ms Naledi Pandor, Minister of Science and Technology of South Africa.

At the conclusion of the forum, a declaration was accepted regarding the renewal of the scientific community’s commitment to the responsible and ethical use of scientific knowledge in addressing the grand challenges of humankind. This declaration addressed the headings of climate change, new sustainable development paths, disaster risk reduction, scientific advice for policies, international collaboration for capacity-building and mobilisation in the developing world, and balanced investment in science.

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