Snores and whirring machines are the only sounds penetrating the silence. Marshall Nelson rubs his eyes and jumps out of bed, dragging his slippers on the floor as he makes his way to check on the 3D printers. He’s been working around the clock to help his community. In Mitchells Plain in the Western Cape, people are at increased risk of contracting COVID-19. Here, high levels of unemployment make it difficult to attain masks and sanitisers, let alone adequate healthcare. But Nelson has a plan to shield those he loves.
Using 3D printers from his media business, Nelson and his family are creating protective visors which they distribute for free. After his daughters proposed the idea, Nelson let no time go to waste. It’s become a family project, with each member dedicated to the cause. Producing plastic headbands with the machines, they piece it together with laminating paper to form visors. This simple, see-through armour protects people’s faces from the germs of others, and prevents their own coughs and sneezes from reaching someone else.
“If we want to stop spreading the coronavirus it’s best to start in your community,” Nelson says. He has since distributed over a thousand face masks locally and is extending his aid to neighbouring areas. For those who can barely afford basic necessities, these items are providing protection and a sense of relief. “When surrounded by panic, it is important to remember that anyone can help in the smallest of ways,” Nelson says. “We become stronger together.” His efforts prove that with a bit of innovation, every individual can make a difference.
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