Making a difference to essential services workers one visor at a time
Local resident does his bit to help others during Covid-19 pandemic.
For Symhurst resident Chezney van Groeningen, helping essential services workers during the Covid-19 pandemic is what he wants to do.
“They are out there risking their lives for us,” he said.
Chezney (28), who was born deaf, is aiding essential services workers by making protective visors on his 3D printer.
The GCN asked him to explain the process of making a visor.
“I use a design that was given to all of us 3D printers from 3DPSA, a volunteer group of 3D printing enthusiasts who got together all over South Africa to make a difference.
“I take the design and input it into my computer which then instructs the 3D printer using code to print,” he said.
“The filament is then fed into the hot-end and starts to print the image onto the surface in stages until the finished product has been formed.”
The main visor band that holds the screen is made of PLA filament which is biodegradable, the plastic screen is PVC and the elastic band makes the visor a little more secure so it can fit almost any head size.
It takes about two hours to make one visor.
So far Chezney has made 142 protective visors.
He recently donated 100 of the visors to the staff at Life Roseacres Hospital and has donated others to car guards out in the streets and elderly community members to keep them protected when they have to go out.
He is now making visors to donate to his brother’s school.
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Karen Landsberg, the marketing coordinator for Life Roseacres Hospital, said, “Life Roseacres Hospital is deeply touched by Chezney’s donation and commends him for this kind and noble act.
“It is sincerely appreciated.”
“It makes me so very happy when I can hand over visors because it is important for us to stay safe and I like to support the community,” Chezney said.
Chezney completed a four-year diploma in IT (software development) last year and has been struggling to find permanent employment.
“I would like to do web development and app development using my qualification,” he said.
“I am also looking at 3D printing becoming a viable business prospect.
“I want to study more about 3D designs and CNC machines so that I can make my own designs.
“My dream is to have my own business so I can support my family and create jobs for other people to reduce the level of unemployment.”
Chezney has also made cellphone stands, a housing unit to put on a camera stand and various parts for his older 3D printer on his new 3D printer.
He told the GCN that he has a very supportive family.
“My mom, Jo-Anne Whitehead, is extremely supportive.
“She pushes me when I doubt myself and she is the person people phone to place the orders because I can’t hear.
“I live with my mom, my stepdad Ricky and my two younger brothers, Ronnan and Daniel,” he said.
When Chezney is not making visors for essential services workers, he enjoys videography and building various things.
“I built an arcade machine out of scrap computer parts and a raspberry pi computer; it worked quite well.
“I like fixing electronic devices as well,” he said.
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