THE Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm has funded the manufacturing and distribution of 5 000 COVID-19 masks for learners and staff members across the region.
The project included the supply of masks – made by On Eagles Wings Multi-Purpose Centre – to 20 Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centres and 14 primary schools within the extended Jeffreys Bay communities.
Resonating with their efforts to support and protect victims of gender-based violence, each mask has been sewn with the Lifeline’s counselling number, to report violence or child abuse.
Hlengiwe Radebe, Director of Economic Development for Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm, says, “By contracting this local NGO, the project has not only helped keep young children safe, but has also created short term employment for the members of the organisation as they sewed and packaged the masks.”
While it is not compulsory for all children at ECD centres to wear masks, the Department of Social Development has given a directive that young children should wear masks, especially where there may be young children with COVID-19 or flu-like symptoms.
One of the twenty ECD centres that received masks recently, is Noah’s Ark in Pellsrus, Jeffreys Bay.
The playschool takes care of around 140 children between the ages of one and six, offering a safe and caring environment, as well as two meals a day.
Parents at the ECD Centre expressed their excitement and appreciation when receiving the masks and other personal protective equipment as many of the children did not have an adequate supply of masks, which required washing.
A team of four women from On Eagles Wings Multi-Purpose Centre sewed the masks at their homes due to COVID regulations, whilst Mercy Cwayi co-ordinated the collection and delivery of the material and other supplies to the team.
Cwayi says in addition to the masks, many of their team members were out in the community, teaching people how to take care not only of themselves but of other people, especially those caring for elderly family members.
“We continue to share about the importance of sanitisers, washing hands, taking care of masks and social distancing. We hope that our commitment to the community can make a difference over such a time as this,” she says.
