The Nazarene Hope Centre for autistic children in Bochabela, Bloemfontein, has received a donation of educational material in aid of the children being cared for at the centre.
The donation was made courtesy of the private company V3 Consulting Engineers as part of its corporate social investment (CSI) programme.
Learning materials were handed over on Wednesday (05/04), coinciding with the celebration of Autism Awareness Month in April.
The month-long awareness campaign starts with World Autism Awareness Day, observed annually on 2 April.
Polina Ditsoane, representative of V3 Consulting, said the decision to make a donation was taken after hearing about the plight of the centre and the needs of the children.
The facility serves as a day care centre for 20 children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Most are from the township.
Buyi Choene, founder of the centre, expressed joy after receiving the donation.
“Children with autism are still marginalised, and little to no provision is made for them to learn to unlock their potential,” said Choene, who has a child with autism.
“The donation will be helpful towards enabling them to learn gradually because of their complex situation and the nature of the disability.
“When autistic children can manage their own challenging behaviour, they can learn and get along better with others.”
Choene said most parents were unaware of the needs of children with autism because of the complex nature of the disorder.
Choene explained that a broad range of conditions could manifest in people with autism, which can be characterised by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviour and speech, as well as non-verbal communication.
“Parents’ lack of knowledge adds to the complications experienced by an autistic child. The challenges range from health challenges to financial problems, changes in family dynamics, and the absence of a social life.”
Choene started the centre at her private residence and mainly depends on state grants to keep the centre afloat and pay support staff that provide much-needed care to the children.
“Patience and understanding children with autism goes a long way,” she said.
