Caption: Projects Abroad volunteer Ms Akki Hulzen helping out with face painting. Photo: SUPPLIED
By Tagimeucia Koroivuki
Today, two volunteers from Projects Abroad Fiji celebrated World Autism day with students of Lautoka School for Special Education.
Projects Abroad volunteers Ms Akkie Hulzen and Ms Martine Tangenes are currently volunteering with Lautoka School for Special Education and are providing one-on-one teaching to the students.
The event was opened with speeches made by parents who have children suffering with autism. They encouraged other parents going through the same situation to be involved more about understanding autism rather than simply ignoring it.
Lautoka School for Special Education Head Teacher Mrs Fairul Nisha Shaheed commented on the event.
“We are happy to be involved with raising awareness of Autism in Fiji. We appreciate the autistic children in our school and we feel they deserve to be recognized in our society.”
“This would be our first year to celebrate World Autism day and we only hope to grow from here,” she added.
Fun and games followed with face painting, blowing of bubbles and other activities that the autistic children were very much involved in. It was definitely a time for everyone to recognize autism present here in Fiji and embrace these children with love, care and much understanding.