Two girls aim to make 2 600 masks for children to combat Covid-19
PARKTOWN – Roedean learners took it upon themselves to make masks for a school in their area.
A Grade 8 learner at Roedean School in Parktown wants to make masks for school children and they need your support.
Jade Ferguson was inspired after listening to an interview conducted by her mom, a well-known journalist and radio host Joanne Joseph.
Joseph interviewed Dr Shaheda Omar, clinical director for The Teddy Bear Clinic. The clinic was started in 1986 to respond to an urgent need for medical examinations for sexually abused children.
Jade said that through that interview, she learned about an initiative that the clinic, along with Gauteng’s Education Department and the South African Presidency, started, to have masks made for children for the country’s public schools. The idea came about because many of the learners attending these schools will be in overcrowded classrooms, making social distancing very difficult. Masks may also be unaffordable, exposing learners to the coronavirus.
“During the lockdown and throughout my holiday, I had a lot of time to think. I thought about how South Africans in quarantine, especially those less fortunate, are going to be able to afford groceries and necessities if they aren’t receiving salaries,” remarked Jade.
This sparked the idea to create masks.
She rallied in one of her closest friends, Deyana Thoka, to actively get involved. The two eager learners at Roedean School in Parktown were informed that one of the schools in the area which required support was the Johannesburg Girls Preparatory School.
There are 1 200 learners and 65 staff members at the school.
“We then contacted Dr Fahmeeda Moosajee [who works with the Islamic Medical Association], who was already overseeing the manufacturing of masks for communities. She kindly assisted us with details as to how to execute the project,” said Jade.
The clinic’s donor liaison officer, Dalene Bishop, sourced hundreds of metres of 100 per cent cotton fabric. The donations of the material lower the manufacturing costs.
“We are going to have 2 600 masks made, including 70 extra just in case. The masks are going to be made at a cost of R10 each, making it our goal to raise R21 000.”
The raised funds will be deposited into the clinic’s account to handle the donations.
“We are grateful to be a part of this project. We hope this initiative grows to help as many people as possible and prevent the spread of coronavirus. We are encouraging our colleagues at other schools to get involved,” Jade concluded.
To get involved or to donate to the project email, daleneb@ttbc.org.za for more information.
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Get your locally made face masks on the Proudly SA portal
