Taking care of your own health

The physical workload within road construction has been significantly reduced in recent years. Nevertheless, it remains a sector that relies on good health and employability. In order to make schoolchildren more aware of the importance of good vitality and employability, training company InfraVak launched InfraVak Fit early this year. This digital platform helps ROC students in particular to scrutinize their way of life and, where necessary, improve it. Director Sander Gerdes explains the initiative further.

As a training company in the GWW sector, InfraVak focuses on the recruitment, supervision and practical training of young people in the provinces of Groningen, Friesland, Drenthe, Overijssel and Gelderland. A target group that follows a bzw training within an ROC (including the ROC of Twente) and receives theoretical training at InfraVak's location in Holten. With the introduction last January of InfraVak Fit, part of the Career & Citizenship course, InfraVak's already extensive training package was further expanded. "Although we haven't done any targeted research on it, there are enough signs that lifestyle and the vitality and health linked to it are not a high priority for most students," says Gerdes. "With InfraVak Fit, we want to change that." 

Custom

With the program developed by Leusden-based DiVitaal, the students not only discover in which areas they can improve, they are also motivated to work on their health and vitality. "Based on concise questionnaires, we make a customized proposal for improvement actions for each individual," Gerdes explains. "This can be done through training courses, workshops, education or otherwise individual coaching programs. Specifically, everyone must be able to find out in a relaxed and enjoyable way how fit and vital they really are. That is why there is a strong emphasis on nutrition and attitude, aspects that are very decisive for a healthy way of life. Now, but certainly later." 

First step

While the awareness pursued through InfraVak Fit fits perfectly within the education program, for it to land well it is important to approach the youth in an appealing way. "A chapter from a book or guest lesson is nice, but not enough," says Gerdes. "That's why we work with a number of specialists, including a dietician, during the implementation of the program. That way we make the program just a little more accessible and tangible. The point is that we at least trigger a thought process in the participants. That is the first gain."