An ongoing partnership between Westview School in Port Elizabeth and Digital Intention, an authorised Roland DG South Africa dealer providing Roland DG products to the Eastern Cape, continues to help learners acquire skills in the unique signage trade.
Mariska Osborne, HOD Signage, Art and Crafts at Westview School, said, ‘Westview School of skills is a special needs school in the Eastern Cape. We have over 700 learners and our aim is to ensure that when they leave school at the end of Year 4, they are capable of doing a trade. Westview is the only school in the country that has sign writing as a trade. This makes it even more special.’
Osborne explained how she got involved: ‘The school’s signage teacher passed away suddenly in 2016 and I was transferred from the academic side of the school to her workshop. I had no idea what to do. Then I saw a Roland vinyl cutter in her office and contacted Roland, which put me in touch with Robert Willemstein from Digital Intention. I phoned him and explained that I had been put in that class to teach, but I didn’t know how the machine worked. Willemstein came to see me immediately. This machine was bought years ago, before he was even in Port Elizabeth, and he still came to my rescue. He gave me a short course and did a few practicals with me. As soon as I got going, there was no stopping me. I basically had Willemstein on speed dial and he always came to help me free of charge.’
This year, the school bought a Roland SG3-540 digital printer. ‘We have had amazing support and guidance from Willemstein. He often comes to class to help with big projects and is very involved with my class. They just love ‘Uncle Rob!’ It was a great experience when we were invited to the Boardwalk this year for the Roland Roadshow’ (where vinyl wrapping was demonstrated in addition to Roland’s equipment showcase). The students were allowed to wrap a car door and Willemstein also gave the school extra pieces of vehicle wrapping vinyl so that the students could practise wrapping.
‘We are a government supported school, so every little bit helps. Willemstein often donates vinyl to us to use for cutting and T-shirt printing. We are grateful for this and for all of the time and effort he has put into the school.’
Willemstein said, ‘Digital Intention’s commitment to the school and its learners is ongoing. It gives me immense satisfaction to see the learners progress and ultimately leave school well-equipped in their trade.’
DIGITAL INTENTION
+27 41 363 0259
robert@digitalintention.co.za
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