"With the concerns surrounding the COVID-19 situation, many people have been pitching in and creating reusable fabric masks for adults and kids alike. However, a key group is excluded from this movement: the deaf and hard of hearing. As avid volunteers, my wife and I have a great appreciation for varied ways in which we communicate be it via the different languages and dialects or just by gesturing. Those who rely on lip-reading or sign language to communicate are often cut off from their source of communication when people around them don face masks. Devised by innovative people from around the world and with the help of our family and friends, we set out to replicate and sew clear transparent masks that are adapted to take into consideration of people who are deaf or hard of hearing hence we started this initiative. We were also thinking where and how to buy rolls of cloths (shops? online?) during the circuit breaker period and help came at the right time when we chanced upon CYC Made to Measure community initiative of ‘300k Masks for Migrants’! We reached out to them, and they kindly offered a helping hand and even offered to cut the cloths to the right size! We hope to donate these clear masks and share our love and concern so that their family members, Teachers or caretakers can communicate more easily with them and each other. Besides, what better way to show our beautiful smiles hidden behind face masks and spread positivity to the rest of our community? Photo of us sewing clear smile masks at home in Singapore during Covid-19. Photo of donated cloths contribution by CYC Tailor." Oliver Guo is the founder of The Simple Deed, a volunteer network that makes and distributes face masks with transparent panels.--Contributed by Oliver Guo, as part of the "Documenting COVID-19 in Singapore" collection community call. This photograph shows Oliver Guo, founder of The Simple Deed, modelling a transparent face mask made by fabric donated by CYC Tailor. Additional description by Library staff. Title devised by Library staff.
All rights reserved. Oliver Guo, 2020
