VANDERBIJLPARK – What began as a local fundraising concept has blossomed into a life-changing initiative for young women in the Vaal.

The project’s roots can be traced to Susan Claase, sister of Assistant Governor Jackie van Waveren, who began crafting small, handmade dolls as a fundraising initiative.

Supported by a dedicated team of volunteers, the idea soon caught the attention of Bepa Mellis, a former exchange student of the Vanderbijlpark Club and currently a Rotaract District Representative in Italy.

Seeking a meaningful way to empower young girls in her former host community, Bepa and her fellow Italian Rotaractors partnered with the local club to market the dolls in Europe.

Italian Parliament

The initiative gained momentum when Rotary President Zander Lindvelt personally delivered 150 dolls to Italy during a social visit. The dolls, sold for €1 each (approximately R19 per doll), became an overnight sensation.

The demand was so high that an additional 150 crocheted bow ties were produced to keep up with the fundraising pace. The project was so well-received that it was even showcased during an official event at the Italian Parliament.

The campaign raised a staggering R300 000, which was utilised to provide essential resources for schoolgirls.

The funds were used to source:

300 Branded Backpacks: Each bag featured the logos of the participating Rotary and Rotaract clubs.

Personal care kits: Filled with essential toiletries and hygiene products.

Handcrafted pencil bags: Lovingly made by a group of women from Cape Town who heard about the project and volunteered their skills.

Italian Rorary

Bepa Mellis returned to South Africa for the distribution, accompanied by Italian Rotary representatives Alessandra Sanna and Giulia Vicario. Across six schools and one community organisation, 300 girls received their packs along with a meal and juice.

Bepa delivered an inspirational message to the recipients, emphasising that a global community supports them. To ensure sustainability, additional stock was left with the schools to assist future students in need.

Remaining funds were allocated to the Mission Vision Project, an initiative by Rotarian Gerrit van Bremmel that provides prescription spectacles to girls with impaired vision, ensuring their education is not hindered by poor eyesight.

Community effort
This success was made possible through the generous support of local partners:
Silverado Spur (Catering)
Mahindra Vanderbijlpark (Transport)
LintNet Engineering (Storage and logistics)
Rotary Club of Knights Pendragon (R10 000 donation)