An excellent example of how some of the projects implemented as part of PAFF programs during the time of pandemic proved helpful can be an initiative taken up by “Pawłoszewo in 3D”? Why Not? group of young people who decided to support medics and their local community. The project was supported as part of the “Equal Opportunities” Program.
In order to make a model of their village and implement “Pawłoszewo in 3D”? Why Not? project the group of young people had bought a 3D printer. During an online meeting one of the project participants said he had read an article on the Internet about Printers for Hospitals world initiative. The group then decided to use their 3D printer and their newly-acquired skills to help the others. As they say, “We are a drop in the sea of need but in the scale of our neighborhood it’s really something.”
Initially they had to find the already existing and available for free project of modelling the visors for their printer. The task was assigned to the Technic Group. They have found three such projects on the Internet. Each of them required individual setting and selection of printing parameters. Additionally, the selected model had to meet the Sanitary Inspection standards. It took them a few days to print each of the models they had found and select the best one.
At the same time, the Promotion Group was looking for support – they needed someone who could buy PET foil, elastic band for visors, and filament for 3D printing. They got it from scouts and local businessmen.
The next stage was printing the visors. Printing one visor takes 4.5 hours. They must be printed with PET or Easy PET filament because then they are easy to disinfect. They also need to be elastic. When the panels are installed you have to stretch them. Then you have to cut the PET foil and put all the elements together; that is a very easy task and anybody can do it without a problem.
“We’ve already got some practice. And we get very positive response from doctors and medics. We’ve heard many times that our visors are better than the ones hospitals usually buy for their staff.”
The Safety Group prepared an equipment disinfecting manual so that it can be safely used for a long time. The results of first tests were positive. The visors were accepted in online consultations with some health care employees they had known. So they started printing in full swing!
“It’s an important task for us. Fear, sadness and a totally new reality surrounding us let us find the sense of our joint action. Each hour of 3D printing, assistance offered to us by ordinary people, and the joy of those who receive our visors – all that makes us happy. We are printing GOOD, aren’t we? Our project should be renamed Good in 3D? Why not?”
The first batch of visors (6 pieces) has been delivered to Emergency Service in Wołów. It was evaluated positively and proved useful in medics’ and doctors’ work. The second batch (18 pieces) has gone to hospital in Brzeg Dolny. At the young people’s request, one of the volunteers collected the visors and delivered them to the place of destination.
The young people got many thank-you-letters, including one from the Head of Wołów county who wrote that he was impressed with their involvement in acting for the benefit of local community and development of such an initiative in the county.
“We also talk about our project during online lessons in our schools. A new challenge in the project which we carry out in difficult time of pandemic has shown us that we can be active in any conditions. Helping is cool. We manage in a different situation. We stay at home but we can stimulate activity in our neighborhood. We take advantage of the fact that we have abilities which allow us help the others. We have made a choice ourselves whether we want to give up our project or suspend its implementation or modify it and carry on. We have made new close relationships. We are involved emotionally in our project although fame and strong local appreciation amaze us a bit. We are planning our further activities and getting to know our neighborhood really well.”
Next six visors will be delivered to people in need very soon. They will go to a shop assistant at the grocer’s, an attendant at a customer service center, and a gas station attendant. The demand is huge.
“Our action has integrated us, we are happy we can help the others. We even tend to forget that the situation is hard for everybody today. We will manage; 3D has made us stronger! We are staying at home but at the same time we are present in so many places. Good for us!”
