LEES HIERDIE BLAD IN AFRIKAANS
If you are supporting #PayForwardAMask or have a story about it, please let me know so I can share it
on this page
[ CLICK HERE TO SHARE YOUR STORY ]
Our known #PayForwardAMask “Maskateers”
Douw Prinsloo | Caren Van Vuuren | Marizaan Visagie Lundall | Fatima Abdool
Actress, author, motivational speaker and social media influencer, Fatima Abdool, mentioned us in her
daily Facebook Live session - check it out. Link below. Skip to 15:00 min if you want to listen to the
mention, but the whole video is worth a watch.
[ Click HERE and check out Fatima’s video ]
NB: Mandatory protocols (adjusted 11 Jan 202 )
34(2) The wearing of a face mask is mandatory for every person when in a public place, excluding a child under
the age of six years, and any person who fails to comply with a verbal instruction by an enforcement officer to wear
a face mask, commits an offence and is, on conviction, liable to a fine or a period of imprisonment not exceeding six
months, or to both such fine and imprisonment.
Here are the details of the incident that led to the birth of #PayForwardAMask
On the 1st of January, I drove down Meiring Naude Street, near the CSIR. Near
the Engen garage, I saw a police van on the side of the road. Next to it, I saw a
cop with a woman and two children.
I did something I would never do. I pulled off to the side, pushed back a little,
switched off my vehicle, got out of my vehicle, and then walked across the road
to the other side where the police van was. I knew I had to approach things
carefully, so my first words were, "Good afternoon officer..." He greeted me back. I
asked, "Is there something wrong..?" He didn't answer immediately and first
wanted to know who I was and where I was going. I provided the information. I
went on and told him that I just drove past and saw them and thought I might
be of some help.
He then informed me that the woman and her two children were not wearing
masks. I was so focused on him that I didn't even notice it. In South Africa it is
now compulsory to wear a face mask whenever you are in public and failure to
do so is considered a criminal offense, punishable with a fine or even jail time. I
could see that these people probably didn't even have money for food, let alone
money for masks.
I had to think quickly. I asked the police officer if I could please go home quickly
to them some masks. He looked surprised and then asked where I live. I
explained to him where I live and asked again if he would please stay with them
so they could be safe while I was away.
I came home and fetched a pack of Clicks 3-pack masks and returned to the
scene.
I gave the mommy and the kids each their masks and in the mommy's mask, I
put some money, which was all I had with me in my wallet. I helped the kids to
put on their masks. The smallest one's mask was too big so I had to make the
loops smaller first so that at least it could fit.
I am just so grateful that the policeman didn't act differently. I realize that this
situation could easily have played out differently. But it did not.
I asked the police officer if everything was alright now and he said "Yes." I then
waited for the mommy and her two children to leave before I greeted the
policeman and yes, thanked him for his service, for working to keep us safe and
that he gave me a chance to help these people. He was very polite and just said,
"Thank you for stopping sir".
Life lesson people. Every day there is an opportunity where you and I can do
something to make someone's day or to make someone's day better. I went to
buy extra masks and will now keep them in my car because who knows when I
need them again.
On my fridge, I have a magnet that says, "To the world you may be one person,
but to one person you may be the world" Remember it, people!
I shared the story on Facebook and the story received so much attention from
the group where I shared it and from a very long, wonderful, positive
conversation #PayForwardAMask was born. The idea is simple. Buy a few extra
masks and keep them in your car. If you see someone wearing a dirty mask or no
mask at all, then do what you need to do, #PayForwardAMask and keep
someone safe.
Final Thoughts
Masks create a barrier preventing respiratory droplets from travelling into the air Mask CAN protect you but NOT every mask! By wearing a mask we learn to respect each other It is important to use both disposable and reusable masks properly Do NOT share masks, do not wear someone else’s used mask. It is now mandatory for everyone in SA to wear a mask. Failing to do so is a criminal offence
LEES HIERDIE BLAD IN AFRIKAANS
If you are supporting #PayForwardAMask
or have a story about it, please let me know
so I can share it on this page
[ CLICK HERE TO SHARE YOUR STORY ]
Our known #PayForwardAMask
“Maskateers”
Douw Prinsloo | Caren Van Vuuren |
Marizaan Visagie Lundall | Fatima Abdool
Actress, author, motivational speaker and
social media influencer, Fatima Abdool,
mentioned us in her daily Facebook Live
session - check it out. Link below. Skip to
15:00 min if you want to listen to the
mention, but the whole video is worth a
watch.
[ Click HERE and check out Fatima’s video ]
NB: Mandatory protocols (adjusted 11 Jan 202 )
34(2) The wearing of a face mask is mandatory
for every person when in a public place,
excluding a child under the age of six years, and
any person who fails to comply with a verbal
instruction by an enforcement officer to wear a
face mask, commits an offence and is, on
conviction, liable to a fine or a period of
imprisonment not exceeding six months, or to
both such fine and imprisonment.
Here are the details of the
incident that led to the birth of
#PayForwardAMask
On the 1st of January, I drove
down Meiring Naude Street, near
the CSIR. Near the Engen garage,
I saw a police van on the side of
the road. Next to it, I saw a cop
with a woman and two children.
I did something I would never do. I
pulled off to the side, pushed back
a little, switched off my vehicle,
got out of my vehicle, and then
walked across the road to the
other side where the police van
was. I knew I had to approach
things carefully, so my first words
were, "Good afternoon officer..." He
greeted me back. I asked, "Is there
something wrong..?" He didn't
answer immediately and first
wanted to know who I was and
where I was going. I provided the
information. I went on and told
him that I just drove past and saw
them and thought I might be of
some help.
He then informed me that the
woman and her two children were
not wearing masks. I was so
focused on him that I didn't even
notice it. In South Africa it is now
compulsory to wear a face mask
whenever you are in public and
failure to do so is considered a
criminal offense, punishable with
a fine or even jail time. I could see
that these people probably didn't
even have money for food, let
alone money for masks.
I had to think quickly. I asked the
police officer if I could please go
home quickly to them some
masks. He looked surprised and
then asked where I live. I
explained to him where I live and
asked again if he would please
stay with them so they could be
safe while I was away.
I came home and fetched a pack
of Clicks 3-pack masks and
returned to the scene.
I gave the mommy and the kids
each their masks and in the
mommy's mask, I put some
money, which was all I had with
me in my wallet. I helped the kids
to put on their masks. The
smallest one's mask was too big
so I had to make the loops smaller
first so that at least it could fit.
I am just so grateful that the
policeman didn't act differently. I
realize that this situation could
easily have played out differently.
But it did not.
I asked the police officer if
everything was alright now and
he said "Yes." I then waited for the
mommy and her two children to
leave before I greeted the
policeman and yes, thanked him
for his service, for working to keep
us safe and that he gave me a
chance to help these people. He
was very polite and just said,
"Thank you for stopping sir".
Life lesson people. Every day there
is an opportunity where you and I
can do something to make
someone's day or to make
someone's day better. I went to
buy extra masks and will now
keep them in my car because who
knows when I need them again.
On my fridge, I have a magnet
that says, "To the world you may
be one person, but to one person
you may be the world"
Remember it, people!
I shared the story on Facebook
and the story received so much
attention from the group where I
shared it and from a very long,
wonderful, positive conversation
#PayForwardAMask was born.
The idea is simple. Buy a few extra
masks and keep them in your car.
If you see someone wearing a
dirty mask or no mask at all, then
do what you need to do,
#PayForwardAMask and keep
someone safe.
Final Thoughts
Masks create a barrier preventing respiratory droplets from travelling into the air Mask CAN protect you but NOT every mask! By wearing a mask we learn to respect each other It is important to use both disposable and reusable masks properly Do NOT share masks, do not wear someone else’s used mask. It is now mandatory for everyone in SA to wear a mask. Failing to do so is a criminal offence
