Percepta Europe

Our team in South Africa has once again contributed and made a difference in their community. We are pleased to share their latest “Percepta Passion” volunteer program. Let’s take a closer look…

UNICA Christmas Market is an event which is aimed at raising funds for the UNICA School and the Association for Autism.  The school caters to the training and education of individuals with Autism.

The Association assists individuals and families in need of services and works closely with other autism organisations, care-facilities, schools, professionals and parents for the benefit of all diagnosed with Autism.

One such organization is the Lethabo le Khutso (meaning “Place of Rest and Peace”) Adult Care Facility, which caters to adults with Autism.  The needs of these adults are not always fully understood nor attended to at residential care facilities for the mentally and physically disabled.  The Care Centre promotes, develops and sustains services for the welfare, training and education of adults on the Autism Spectrum.

Services include:

• Provision, maintenance and expansion of residential and day services for adults with Autism.
• Development of respite services to assist people with Autism, their families and care-givers.
• Maintenance and development of advisory and support services for families, employers, and professionals (rendering an Autism-specific service).

Let’s hear what some of them have to say:

Alex Prokopis, CRC agent: 
“The UNICA market was a different experience for me.  When I first arrived there I thought it was just me helping people out until I read one of the pamphlets and realised that I was actually doing a good service to help out the unfortunate. While walking through the isles at the market and looking at what great lengths people go through to help the needy really made my heart happy to see that there still are good people out there in the world.”

Bruce Harrington, Escalations Manager: 
“I have heard about autism before but I never knew how many people it affected. It was amazing to see how many people supported the market and I will definitely go and volunteer again.”

Marinda Bruwer, HRBP:
“Many of the other volunteers asked me how I was related to the market, either by having a child in the school or being family with someone who has. When I answered that I do not know anybody in the school, but that we, as Percepta SA, was just helping out because we saw their flyer asking for help, it was as if they could not believe that ‘outsiders’ would go to the trouble to assist. It made me realise that they, as the ‘Autism community’, had been standing on their own and have driven this market as a solo effort the past 24 years.”

Marco Jacobs, CRC agent: 
“My Experience at the UNICA Christmas Market was one that I would never replace and if I could relive it again I would do it any day.  I never knew what people with Autism look like, but I knew the type of disability. My eyes and my heart opened for the kids and the way they are attracted to the smaller things at the market – things that we pass by and not even notice but they noticed it. What I have learned from my experience at UNICA is that every child that came there is special in his or her own special way; none of them are the same in their actions and that makes them special.”

To learn more about how you can help UNICA visit: http://www.unicaschool.co.za/ for more information.  Also, the United Nations has declared 2 April World Autism Awareness Day.  Check out www.worldautismawarenessday.org to see if there is an Autism organisation in your area that you can support.

We are proud of our SA team’s efforts towards this worthy cause and look forward to hearing more volunteer stories in the near future!