Change the world

07/07/2020

Mandela University’s Visual Arts Department through the #MaskupMandela campaign, recently handed over 100 masks to staff and residents of the Cheshire Home (for the physically disabled) in Summerstrand.

Prof Pieter Binsbergen, Director of the School of Visual and Performing Arts said the manager of Cheshire Home, Deidre Burger, was delighted to host the Department of Visual Arts and expressed their gratitude for the donation.

The Department is working in collaboration with the MBDA (Mandela Bay Development Agency) in identifying micro-communities in the metro that require urgent Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) support and assistance.

The Cheshire Home is the second micro-community identified by the University; Cape Recife High School being the first.  Our MoU with the home ensures that our health sciences students have the opportunity to gain much needed work integrated learning experiences in the form of various internship programmes on offer at the home, said Prof Binsbergen.

The masks were produced by Visual Arts Department’s Fashion and Textiles alumnus, Braemore Lindell-Sauls.  Braemore Designs deposited 2000 units into the aptly termed ‘Mask Bank’ established by Prof Binsbergen in support of our micro-community #MaskupMandela drive.  Funding was generously granted by the MBDA.

As many of the residents are vision impaired, Ms Burger commented that the design best suited their needs due to the metal strip in the bridge of the masks that can be moulded to individual facial profiles allowing residents to wear glasses without the lenses fogging up.

“We aim to make ongoing calls to the home in order to monitor and support any further PPE requirements they may have in the near future”, said Prof Binsbergen.

Pictured are staff and residents of the Cheshire Home wearing their new masks with Prof Pieter Binsbergen. 

Contact information
Prof Pieter Binsbergen
School of Visual and Performing Arts
Tel: 041 5043647
pieter.binsbergen@mandela.ac.za