By Foday Moriba Conteh
As part of their continuous support to vulnerable people in the country, especially those living with disabilities, the Orange Foundation Sierra Leone has on Monday 19th April, 2021, donated assorted food items worth 85 Million of Leones to the Sierra Leone Autistic Society for onward support to children living with Autism in their school. The event took place at the Sierra Leone Autistic Society Care Center at Babadorie Hill, Lumley in Freetown.
The donated items included: 70 (50kg) bags of rice, 70 cartoons of tin tomato, 67 gallon of cooking oil, 70 bags of onions, 70 bags of sugar, and 70 bags of medicated soap. These items are to be distributed to children with Autism at the Sierra Leone Autistic Society Care Center.
Welcoming the Orange Foundation team, Chairman of the Sierra Leone Autistic Society Board, Gibrilla Jalloh intimated that the Sierra Leone Autistic Society is pleased to welcome them to their care center.
He further extended appreciation to the Foundation for thinking of them and making such a huge donation to them as a society further assuring that the Sierra Leone Autistic Society will ensure that the donated items are handed over to the targeted beneficiaries, which are children living with Autism.
Manager of Orange Foundation, Desmond Spaine applauded the Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Autistic Society, Mary Penntimity, for the initiative to care for children living with Autism, adding that such a move by the society is indeed a laudable one for which they should be commended.
He admonished the parents and guardians to consider these children as very important kids in society regardless of their current situation.
He maintained that the Orange Foundation as a responsible entity thought it fit to make the aforementioned donation on behalf of Management stating how they did so out of the strong conviction that such could be helpful especially at this decisive moment.
Handing over the food items to the Sierra Leone Autistic Society, the Director of Orange Foundation -Sierra Leone, Jestina Betts, said Orange Foundation is very happy to hand over the assorted food items to the Sierra Leone Autistic Society to support children living with Autism, adding that as a company they want to be touching their lives and ensure they continue to support them during difficult periods.
The Director stated that the donation is evident of the fact that they do not take their Corporate Social Responsible lightly, saying such is pivotal to their business as a Telecoms Company. She further revealed that they have been supporting different vulnerable groups in the country.
She disclosed that when she took over as Director of the Foundation she heightened the passion to do something especially with regards addressing issues relating to children in the country saying children living with Autism need more attention, furthering that when growing up she came across children living with Autism and she has always wanted to help them revealing how they are very proud to say the said donation is a fulfillment of the Foundation’s commitment to support the less privileged groups in the country.
The Director noted that they are very committed to see that they render their support to them in order to include them in their digital inclusion, furthering that although these children have disabilities they should not be discriminated against but rather should be considered as very important children in society.
Receiving the donated items, the Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Autistic Society, Mary Pentimity, expressed appreciation to Orange Foundation for the kind gesture which she described as the biggest donation they have so far received as a Society.
Mary Penntimity noted that her organization has been providing support for autistic children, young people and their families in Sierra Leone since inception, adding that they started with few children but now runs or operates various play schemes or games, have youth groups and support groups, furthering that their activities include providing vital community support and reducing the profound and dangerous isolation of autistic children furthering that they have also succeeded in establishing a school for those children.
She noted that with the support from the Orange Foundation it will surely contribute tremendously towards supporting these children living with Autism and their families.
The Executive Director also assured that the items will be given to the children as beneficiaries of the donation and their families saying such will surely help in this decisive moment in the country.
She ended by calling on all to stop the discrimination against children living with Autism but rather help in creating the enabling environment for them as children to grow with confidence and a sense of being loved.
Mabinty Kamara, a parent of one of the beneficiaries expressed her gratitude to the Orange Foundation for donating the assorted food items to the Sierra Leone Autistic Society in order to support their children living with Autism in the country.
She noted that such a gesture will not only help them greatly but is a very timely intervention as such will help to sustain the livelihoods of these children and their families.
The parent assured all that they will use the donated food items in order to support their families.
