Woman on a mission
ROODEPOORT — Rotary Club awards 32 years of community's one-stop service project.
The Roodepoort Central Rotary Club recently handed the Paul Harris Fellow International Award to Irma Visagie for her humanitarian and educational projects in the Newlands community.
Visagie has been working for the SAVF Claremont Community Project for 13 years. The project has been operating since 1983, focusing on job creation, family care and feeding schemes. The Constantia Kloof resident said the award was based on nominations from members of the Rotary Club.
“It was such a surprise just to have these people express their appreciation for the work that we do in the community. It was very humbling and I did not expect it at all. I love my job and it is amazing to receive this from such a big organisation.”
Last year, Visagie received a merit award from the Rotary Club for her work on the project. She said their vision is to make a purposeful impact in the community by creating life-changing and inspiring opportunities to people in the community.
The Newlands-based organisation created seven job opportunities every year with the baking project, which also has to generate an income. “Even with the poorest of people, it is important that they feel that they have self-worth. So with the families that get food parcels, we don’t just hand them out. They work in the bakery for four hours a week or so. You need to focus on the person holistically,” Visagie added.
They take care of 93 children in their crèches from 6am to 5.30am, and the children receive two meals, fruit and drinks daily. In the cases where children’s parents cannot pay the R450 monthly school fees, Visagie said sponsors pay the fees.
“The centre created jobs for three daycare workers, three assistants, one cook, one cleaner and a gardener. Currently, we have 10 sponsored children.”
Details: SAVF Claremont, 011 673 8106.
