Prof Hans de Ridder, director of the School of Biokinetics, Recreation and Sport Science at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Potchefstroom, has been appointed as a member of the board of directors of The Foundation of Global Community Health (GCH).
According to Dr Ming-kai Chin, the president and founder of GCH, their mission is to improve community health and wellness around the world by promoting physical, social and emotional health and safety through evidenced and culturally relevant school-based intervention strategies.
The target tasks to accomplish are to broaden intervention strategies that promote safety, physical, social and emotional health, including those with special needs. “We are striving to empower children worldwide to become creators, collaborators and contributors to the GCH network through social media and technology because children are the best predictors and influencers of self, family and community health patterns and outcomes,” he said.
The GCH has been endorsed by 57 international organisations and institutions.
Prof de Ridder would be responsible to give advice and guidance to the Board and the team of scientific advisers and future leaders through effective implementation in research and projects to promote holistic health of children and community globally. As the key professional in South Africa in physical education and sports science, Prof De Ridder will also be the leader and coordinator to support GCH in South Africa and African countries.
Prof Awie Kotze, dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, said it is really a pleasure to support and assist Prof De Ridder in this initiative as a member of the board of directors. “The faculty and university place a high premium on future collaboration between the NWU and the Foundation of Global Community Health. We are honored to have Prof De Ridder on our staff and congratulate him in this remarkable achievement.”
Prof Hans de Ridder from the NWU is a key professional in South Africa in physical education and sports science.
