Autism is a neuro-developmental disorder affecting so many around the world. Autism is not mental illness, these children and adults think differently. Albert Einstein, they say was autistic. How many in the audience know that there are
38,000 autistic people in Sri Lanka?
So we as entertainers, urge you all to ‘
speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves.’
Lets spread awareness of autism, particularly when numbers of autistic children are rising and we urge our government to also provide public services – who knows we may even produce Albert Einsteins if we provide education, health, specialist speech therapy for autistic children in our lovely island....
Desmond de Silva
MISSION STATEMENT :
To equip Autistic children with the required skills to lead meaningful and independent lives within Sandakan society and to raise awareness among the public on autism.
OBJECTIVES :
+To expose the school community and the general public to autism in our effort to raise awareness via the creation of a website, so that the younger generation and the public may be more sensitive to the needs of these strata society.
+To help the autistic children, parents, teachers and the centre obtain a better understanding about Autism by providing any resources at the website on the subject.
+To give funds to the centre, so the teachers can get proper training in the future.
+To get the school community to contribute in helping the autistic children, through voluntary work such as charity work (cleaning and mural painting) and activity (mini concert) to raise fund for the centre.
+To change mindsets of every person in accepting autistic people in their community, so that they too feel loved and accepted as a contributing part of the society.
+To raise funds to improve the facilities of the centre.
+To create an awareness of the team members and the school community in general, of how much we should appreciate our lives and be grateful for it.
+To bring light to the children who are developmentaly delayed by having fun with them through activities.
Activities
A Cent A Day.
Date : From 18.09.07 to 12.10.07
Venue : Donation jars will be placed at school canteens and teachers' staffrooms.
Objectives : This activity gives a chance for the school communities to contribute and donate even just a cent a day! All collection and donation will be donated to Sabah Cheshire Early Intervention Centre in October.
Charity Work.
Date : 06.10.07
Venue : Sabah Chesire Early Intervention Centre
Objectives : Along with Sung Siew community, this will be a whole day work on cleaning, planting and mural painting on the plain walls. This is to prepare the centre to children learning friendly.
Family Day.
Date : 21.10.07
Venue : Sabah Chesire Early Intervention Centre
Objectives : A set of games, aiming for these children. With these games involving the team members, the teachers of the centre, the parents and the children, we hope the children will have fun and know that they are accepted among the normal people too. This activity will be held during the Family Day, which will be officiated by YB Au Kam Wah.
Mini Charity Concert.
Date : 27.10.07
Venue : School Stage, School Grandstand
Objectives : A mini concert, allowing different group of students, consisting of uniform bodies, clubs and individuals, performing dance, singing and even band performance. This is to realize their talents and be thankful for it. So they get the chances to entertain, be entertained and the same time, do charity. All donation will be collected and used for educational aids, materials and toys for the centre.
Future Activities
H.O.P.E. team believes that these children need love, care and attention. Thus, the team is going to continue serving the centre in a long run. Starting with the adoption programme, festive celebrations and annual family day. This is a continuous effort and out of the team's willingness as we believe help doesn't come in short period of time, if one wants to see the outcome. We hope by then, we will grow with these children and see them becoming somebody too in the society.
Adoption Programme.
Date : In November
Venue : Sabah Cheshire Home Early Intervention Centre
Objectives : Team members are able to adopt their brothers and sisters at the EIC and get to know them, by spending time with them and teach them through the guidance from the teachers in the centre. With this, the children learn to be accepted and loved. As for the team members, this will be an eye opener and awareness to learn more about the children, learning to be patient and appreciate of what God has given to them.
Festive Celebration.
Date : 13.12.07 & 19.12.08 [Christmas]
Venue : Sabah Cheshire Home Early Intervention Centre
Objectives : H.O.P.E. team will arrange activities for Christmas celebration with the centre's committees. This celebration will involved all occupants of Sabah Cheshire Home, too!
Annual Family Day.
Date : The centre's anniversary
Venue : Sabah Cheshire Home Early Intervention Centre
Objectives : Since our successful family day, we intend to continue this activity in the future. It opens chances of good interaction among the communities.
...and many many more to come!
After the meeting, we went to shop for decorations, stationeries, puzzles and things that we need to use on Family Day. Our 1st stop was at Wong Yung Kee Hypermarket, we went to the 4th floor and bought our stuffs. Then we hit for the next target, the bank. When we arrived, it was full so we waited for our turn for 15 minutes before banking in all the money from "A Cent a Day" donation. After that we went for our lunch at KFC then we started shopping again at Giant Hypermarket to buy the stuffs which we couldn't find in the previous Mart. Then we went to Jinni Printing Enterprise to print a banner. 
Crystal's trip ended here as she had an organ lesson to attend at 2.30pm, the others continued their shopping adventure at Genting Mas Mall, another Hypermart which is famous for low price and high quality stuffs. We bought 15 water guns at the mall after we bought some souvenirs at Sabah Hotel's souvenirs store. At 3.30pm we bought some glitter glues to decorate some souvenirs we bought for the guests of honour and mentors. 
