Autism Care and Awareness Community Service Project

Initiated on October 6th, 2022, and accomplished on May 18th, 2023, the Faculty of Pharmacy at Tishk International University (TIU) successfully implemented this year’s Autism Care and Awareness Community Service Project. The project was carried out under the supervision of Dr. Rozhan Arif, the Dean of Students Representative and Coordinator of the Faculty of Pharmacy, along with Research Assistants Dr. Saya Ameer and Dr. Sarmad Jabbar, as well as other supervisors including Dr. Ibrahim Khudhair, Dr. Omar Najmaddin, and Dr. Mohammed Sultan. Numerous volunteers from different grades also participated in the project.

Each year, the organizers of this project plan a series of activities aimed at raising awareness, understanding, and acceptance of autistic individuals. These activities span over several months and involve a range of preparations, workshops, fundraising events, and visits to autism centers to enable students to engage with and witness the daily struggles of those affected.

The project began by obtaining permission from the center’s director on October 6th, 2022, to commence the project and coordinate access. Organizers established a communication group with volunteers, assigning responsibilities and distributing tasks. Meetings were held with the volunteers to design brochures, assign tasks, and schedule activities including shopping.

One of the key events was a fundraising event held on February 22nd, 2023, aimed at gathering support and financial aid from TIU students, staff, and external individuals. Faculty-student volunteers worked diligently to collect funds through various activities, such as selling homemade foods and handicrafts, providing henna designs, conducting competitions, and offering blood pressure, blood sugar, and body mass index measurements. TIU Presidency, staff members, and students enthusiastically visited the stands and made significant contributions to the fundraising efforts.

On March 30th, a group of volunteer students from the faculty, accompanied by their supervisor, Dr. Saya Ameer, went shopping to purchase stationery items for autistic children at an Autism Center in Erbil. The students and supervisors packed the bags with the items, prepared sweets, and adorned the center with balloons and other decorations ahead of the ceremony held on April 2nd, which coincided with World Autism Day.

During the ceremony on April 2nd, nearly 17 volunteer students, along with supervisors and other doctors, including the Dean and Head of Department, visited the Autism Center. The event took place in the presence of the children, their families, and invited guests. Brochures containing practical advice on caring for autistic children were distributed to parents, aiming to provide them with support and guidance.

The event included various activities organized by the volunteers to engage and entertain the autistic children and their families. These activities encompassed face painting, hand printing, and other interactive experiences, allowing the children to express themselves creatively and enjoy the event. The success of the project was evident as the children and their families expressed their gratitude for the volunteers’ efforts and the Faculty of Pharmacy’s involvement.

Finally, on May 18th, 2023, the Pharmacy Faculty arranged a final and comprehensive visit to the center to deliver all the gifts prepared for the autistic children and their teachers. These gifts included specialized toys and exercises tailored to each child’s autism and cognitive impairment level. Students also had the opportunity to engage in various activities with the autistic children throughout the day.

We hope that all the goals and objectives of this project have been achieved. The project serves as a motivation for our students to care for and raise awareness about autism within our community. Continued collaboration and contributions are essential to further develop the educational support for autistic children and meet their specific needs.