SURPRISE VIP AT AUTISM CARNIVAL
Najib turns up unannounced to the delight of children and their families
SOME 2,000 autistic children and their families were feted at Karnival Semarak Autism 2018 in the CIDB Convention Centre yesterday.
The second edition of the carnival, organised by Permata and Permata Kurnia, was launched by Permata patron Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, the wife of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Present was Permata Kurnia director Prof Madya Dr Hasnah Toran.
Rosmah, who arrived at 11.30am, spent two hours chatting with visitors, visiting booths manned by autistic children and watching performances by the children on stage.
At 12.20pm, the hall was abuzz as guests and visitors were given a pleasant surprise.
Najib turned up unannounced and was immediately swamped by children and their families, who took pictures and wefies with him, and shook his hands.
The prime minister, who spent 30 minutes at the event, watched some of the performances.
Hasnah said the carnival was held each year to create awareness about autism and to give autistic children the space and opportunity to get involved in activities.
She said Permata Kurnia was carrying out several initiatives, including the Awesome Cafe project, to help autistic children to learn to stand on their own two feet.
“This initiative has been carried out with Kolej Komuniti Selayang over the past three years, with a focus on low-functioning autistic children.
“Lecturers from the college come every month to Permata Kurnia to teach the children to cook. This year, they are learning to be baristas.
“We don’t want their lives to end with them being confined to welfare homes.
“Through this initiative, we hope to teach them to fend for themselves, even if they are just working as baristas or making cupcakes.”
Hasnah said the Awesome Cafe project gave low-functioning autistic youth the opportunity to earn money, adding that this was good especially considering the lack of chances for them to further their studies.
“At present, there are 15 autistic youth aged between 16 and 24 years who are training to cook and learning the basics of entrepreneurship. We don’t have a permanent shop, but we do set up stalls should there be specific functions.”