WearCheck partners Fulton School for the Deaf

At WearCheck, staff at the condition monitoring specialist company take their relationship with the community seriously, especially when it comes to supporting the youth.

In line with the company’s We Care social responsibility initiative, WearCheck launched a work-skills programme with the Fulton School for the Deaf to help students pursue their career aspirations.

The school is dedicated to educating deaf and hard-of-hearing learners, and offers classes aligned with SA’s national curriculum from pre-primary to Grade 12, as well as specialised programmes for deaf learners with additional learning barriers. Founded in 1959, it is the oldest school for the deaf in KZN, and has a proud history of achievements in its specialised educational field.

The WearCheck partnership is particularly meaningful, as it began through one of the company’s own mini-lab technicians, Shane Goslin. Over 20 years ago, while working at a local fish and chip shop, Goslin encountered two students from the school who wanted to place an order. Reflecting on the experience, Goslin shared: ‘With me being unable to communicate in Sign Language, and them unable to vocalise their order, it was a challenging situation. But thanks to their determination to be understood, and a little effort on my part to understand them, they left with the packet of chips they wanted, and I left with a valuable life lesson. When both parties are willing to make the effort, clear communication is always possible.

‘When WearCheck sought to include more people with disabilities in our company, this simple yet impactful memory led me to suggest reaching out to Fulton School for the Deaf. With just one email, a new and exciting partnership was born.’

WearCheck recently donated 10 tablets to the school. HR Manager Michelle Padayachee said, ‘The students visit our KZN premises every Thursday and get involved in some hands-on work. They enjoy interacting with staff, gaining an understanding of how a workplace operates and experiencing WearCheck’s hospitality, for which we pride ourselves. Along with the work experience we’re offering the students, we hope to help prepare them for their future careers.’

‘At WearCheck, We Care!’