Atlas Copco, in partnership with Reality Wellness Group, rolls out a Wellness programme to uplift the mental well-being of children at James House in Hout Bay, Western Cape
South Africa’s struggling economy is pushing more and more communities into poverty. Children and the youth are particularly vulnerable, facing hunger and homelessness. Studies show they are also at greater risk of developing mental health issues.
With the mental health of the kids at James House a major concern, Atlas Copco, in partnership with Reality Wellness Group, decided to develop and roll out a Wellness programme. Commenting on the significance of the Wellness programme, Noluthando Zondo, Communications Professional, Atlas Copco Holding – Sub Saharan Africa, says, “We believe that having stable and sound mental health is one of the pillars that can sustain any empowerment. The aim is to enable facilitators and councilors at James House to make impactful changes and progress in the children and youth’s emotional well-being.”
The sustainability element of what James House is doing for the community in the Hout Bay area has impressed Atlas Copco who has been supporting the beneficiary for a couple of years. When Cape Town was in the grips of a severe drought in 2022, James House was facing exorbitant water bills. The Atlas Copco Water for All Project team sprang into action, financing boreholes, filtration systems and Jojo tanks to help irrigate the Centre’s veggie gardens that provide food for the children that come to the Centre. The veggie gardens also generate an income for James House through the sale of the produce.
Established in 1986, James House has been doing groundbreaking work in child protection services, care and development programmes. The Centre draws kids out of a life of crime and drugs, teaching them life skills. The Centre creates and facilitates spaces for children to be children; they are supported to do well in school and to develop to their full potential. Community engagement is a priority at James House and work done with community groups and stakeholders aims to influence attitudes into positive behaviours and practices. Furthermore, parents and guardians are supported to strengthen family life, and where possible, household living conditions. Families in the community are also educated about farming on a small scale enabling them to become self-sustainable by creating their own food supply.
Atlas Copco’s over 20 year partnership with Reality Wellness Group aligns with organisation’s unrelenting employee health and wellness narrative. Wellness programmes such as HIV/Aids, good health and well-being, mental health, sexual harassment, gender equality, and COVID-19 support and education, have delivered life changing interventions for employees and their families with a positive impact on the communities where they live.
On 5 and 6 December 2023, a team from Atlas Copco and Reality Wellness Group, joined by representatives from Tirisano Trust, visited James House as well as the Hout Bay communities of Hangberg and Imizamo Yethu where most of the children at the Centre are from. Proudly founded by Atlas Copco, Tirisano trust is a BBBEE “stalwart funding organisation dedicated to transformational change, committed enriching the communities where (they) operate.”
During the visit to James House, the team had the valuable opportunity of engaging with community members and gaining an insight into their lives and community living. Noluthando expresses their admiration for the innovative approach taken by James House and the resilience of the community. “We were extremely impressed with the work being done at James House and their commitment and consistency in doing everything in their power to ensure that the children and youth within their reach are well taken care of. With limited resources they have managed to expand on what they have.”
Highlighting the objectives of Atlas Copco’s CSR initiatives, Noluthando says, “We want to ensure that every community we work with is uplifted and is equipped to be first in mind and first in choice in whatever they have been empowered in.” She adds that Atlas Copco firmly believes that the collective efforts of caring and committed partners like Reality Wellness Group can change lives and bring hope to impoverished communities.
Noluthando also explains how the James House Wellness programme aligns to Atlas Copco’s three focus areas – Education, Healthcare and Sustainability. “The Centre removes barriers that prevent any child from attending a school by, for example, ensuring that essential documents like birth certificates are available.
Furthermore, the Wellness programme equips the counsellors to effectively manage mental health and other health related elements. And finally, the borehole water supplying the garden (part of the Water For All initiative) is a perfect example of an expanded sustainable project.”
Atlas Copco pledges its commitment to being part of the solution through the practical implementation of sustainable initiatives that bring the needed improvements to the communities of Hout Bay. Noluthando stresses that the Wellness programme has broadened the view of what mental health is and the impact it has on the community. “It has assisted the facilitators in tackling challenges they are faced with in both their work and personal lives, which has aided them in being able to provide better emotional and physical support to the children and families they interact with on a daily basis. The success of this initiative illustrates the tremendous value of rolling out Wellness programmes to facilities like James House,” concludes Noluthando.
