Being part of the Rotary Club is in Louise Schaap’s blood.
Her parents were part of the Nuffield Service Club, and her husband’s parents were also part of Rotary.
Growing up, she was part of the Rotary Act, which is for younger people who have left high school.
After the age of 40, you then become eligible to join Rotary.
In the old days, only men were allowed to be part of Rotary and women joined the Rotary Anns Club, which Schaap joined and became president of as her husband had become president of the Rotary Club of Springs Park.
After the death of her husband Martin, she took a step back from Rotary to focus on her children.
However, the call to service was too strong and in 2015 Schaap joined the Rotary Club of Springs Park.
“I grew up in a service club so I thought this was another opportunity to work with the community again. I joined and fulfilled some portfolios in the club and was eventually elected as the president of the club,” said Schaap.
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When Covid-19 struck, the club was badly affected as a large majority of their members were high-risk individuals who couldn’t risk getting infected.
They had to cancel all their fundraisers for the year and met via Zoom.
They did not let that stop them from giving back to the community, and they donated several food parcels around Springs.
Now that the club has resumed some activities, it has carried on with its mission of serving the community and inducted four new members, including Schaap’s son.
The club partnered with the Springs Mall to collect supplies for Vita Nova.
To someone who doesn’t know what Rotary is about, Schaap explained it as a group of wonderful human beings who are upstanding citizens in their society.
“Through fellowship, we work to assist the community and cater for different avenues of service. Our main focus is community, environmental and vocational services, along with merit awards and the youth (exchange students and toastmasters).
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“We also have a robotics course that we do with the youth through the Lego Foundation and there the children are taught how to use Lego to build robots that do certain functions and how to programme it,” says Schaap.
Schaap would like to get a sponsor to buy a kit and invite groups of children to start a robotics club.
“This has always been centred at schools but we would like to set up a centre where youngsters can meet and we can send them to the Lego Foundation in Olivedale where they can be taught how to programme and they can share their knowledge with others,” said Schaap.
She said they hope to work with schools in Springs and in the township.
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