THE staff of Drostdy Protective Workshop were the worthy recipients of the Rotary Club of Uitenhage’s prestige De Mist Award.
The object of the award is to annually give recognition and honour any eligible adult (or adults) who has performed extraordinary and meritorious service to the Uitenhage community. Fields of services recognised by this award, include social or public welfare as well as goodwill.
Ralph Emerson once said: “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honourable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”
Outgoing president of the Rotary Club of Uitenhage, Rynhardt Fourie said, “The staff of Drostdy has truly demonstrated that with passion, empathy and dedication, they are making an enormous difference in the daily lives of the mentally disabled beneficiaries of the protective workshop.
“I have on several occasions witnessed how the staff had to persevere and become creative in service delivery in order to ensure the safety and well-being of the centre which caters for 83 beneficiaries, whom else would be sitting at home and living an unfulfilled life.
“I have seen them sell from oranges to jewellery, not forgetting the two tons of Christmas biscuits each year, soup during winter time, hot cross buns during Easter. Even making doggy beds and the most beautiful woodwork creations.
“I have seen how the staff members are compassionate and kind and practise patience to ensure that each beneficiary feels loved, safe and included. This contributes to a fulfilling life for these mentally disabled adults.
The Rotary Club of Uitenhage has therefore decided that the De Mist Award 2019 should be bestowed upon Yvonne Barkhuizen, manager at Drostdy Protective Workshop and all the staff members.
“They all play an integral part within the workshop leading to extraordinary and meritorious service towards the mentally disabled community,” said Fourie.
