By Francis Kamara
On Friday 8th April, 2022, Orange Foundation and Orange telecommunication, joined the commemoration to show solidarity and support to children living with Autism.
It is against this backdrop that Orange Foundation in partnership with the Sierra Leone Autistic Society (SLAS), launched the SLAS National Helpline. This launch took place at the Orange-SL head office (IMATT) in Freetown.
World Autism Awareness Day is observed on April 2nd every year across the world. It is a day that recognizes and spreads awareness for the rights of people living with Autism.
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental disorder characterized by behavioral and communicational affections that impact a person’s ability to navigate social interactions and also causes repetitive and restricted behavior.
As Sierra Leone joined the world to celebrate World Autism Day, on Friday, 2nd April, 2022 Orange Foundation, announced their intention to partner with the Sierra Leone Autism Society to raise awareness on the disease condition.
Highlighting the positive works of SLAS and its impact, Mrs. Mary Penn-Timity, the founder of the ‘Sierra Leone Autistic Society’ (SLAS) and the ‘Browne-Penn School’, the country’s first ever school for children with autism and other developmental disabilities – acknowledged her delight to see so many people patronizing with the Autistic Society. She expressed her gratitude to Orange Foundation for their strong partnership and solidarity.
Mrs. Mary Penn-Timity, asserted that in the world of Autism, rigidity doesn’t count and that people should be patient with people suffering from autistic disorder and show them love and support. She added that World Autism awareness day is to show the world that children suffering from Autism are also capable of doing things just like normal human beings.
The Sierra Leone Autistic Society (SLAS) started operations in 2014 as a Community Based Organization (CBO) with the aim of sensitizing the general public on Autism.
In 2017 SLAS became a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and established The Browne-Penn Special Education School, the first-ever ‘special needs’ school of its kind in Sierra Leone; for children living with autism, and other developmental disabilities whom SLAS feels can benefit from the school’s programmes.
SLAS ensures weekly community and recreational visits for its pupils in the educational programme, to aid learning, build community relationships and to develop social skills. SLAS’ career support groups are helping to limit social isolation of families impacted by autism and disability issues; particularly those with neuro-developmental disorders.
She added that SLAS’ sensitization team has reached thousands of citizens through TV, radio, foot soldiers in the communities including schools and places of worship, and so forth. Many of their career volunteers who are mainly single mums and elderly grandmothers, are now getting the opportunity to go out and earn a living, pursue studies, get some respite, etc.
It is very important to also mention that SLAS is helping to reduce harmful practices directed towards children with autism and disabilities as all services serve as ‘child protection’ mechanisms.
Giving the keynote address, the Honorable Minister of Social Welfare, Baindu Dassama Kamara, acknowledged her delight to see such programs being organized to advocate for children who are suffering from Autism.
She added that it’s a day observed to show solidarity and raise awareness about autism and emphasized on the resilience of those affected by it. She affirmed that before her appointment, she worked with children and people affected by Autism, and so understands the difficulties the victims are faced with, as well as their parents/guardians.
She furthered that in Sierra Leone, autism is the forgotten reality unlike other countries that provide special care and teachers for children with autistic behavior. She went on to say that the awareness level in Sierra Leone is so low that people are not well informed about Autism, and so it is the responsibility of everyone to bring it to life, talk about the reality of Autism, ensure a safe environment for people living with Autism.
Madam Baindu Dassama Kamara, acknowledged that the theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Inclusive Education’, as children with Autism are most times excluded from the educational processes, and that it is something the government is seriously looking into. She urged other institutions and NGOs to come onboard and spread the awareness of Autism in Sierra Leone, adding that supporting children and people living with Autism is very expensive, and so collective collaboration is a huge boost in tackling the issue of Autism.
She concluded by saying that it is not just about gathering for events and giving big speeches, but rather she urged everyone to put their words into action and work with other organizations to help make life comfortable for children living with Autism.
She thanked Orange-SL on behalf of the government for creating a helpline 504, and urged every Sierra Leonean to report cases that relate to Autism.
In launching the SLAS National Helpline, the Director General of Orange Digital Transformation, Madam Finnah Tucker, started off by congratulating the Sierra Leone Autistic Society for their strong support and commitment in helping children with Autism, and to everyone who sees children with Autism as an integral part of our society. She continued that seeing the happiness on the faces of children living with Autism is a clear manifestation that everyone should go the extra mile to make sure their smiles never fade.
She added that Autism is not self-inflicted, but rather a neurological developmental disability that affects the nervous system, and it is not of their own doing to be affected. She advised that when we as humans see people behaving in an autistic way, we should not be judgmental, but rather we should show them love and support, as there are so many loving people that are suffering from Autism.
She affirmed that as Orange cares, and as a family they are lending a hand in their own little way to support and be part of the beautiful family. She highlighted that the common things that we will see with people suffering from Autism are difficulty in communication, difficulty in interacting socially and are very much highly focused on something, so all we need to do is to be patient with them, and give them a smile while interacting with them and help them not to feel out of place.
She concluded by saying that Orange-SL in reaching out to lend a helping hand because they care, honored the event to launch a helpline – because the one thing that is paramount for people suffering from Autism is the family support that they receive, as that is what helps them to feel belong in society and don’t give up. She went on to say that on behalf of the Orange-SL CEO and the entire staff at Orange-SL, Orange Foundation is pleased to launch a helpline with the code ‘504’ “for all of us to report cases of autism and help promote and support the affected autistic society.”
The event ended with emotional performances by some of the children living with Autism – followed by snapshots and refreshment.
