SMARTER Brunei cannot survive without generating revenue, despite receiving encouraging contributions from the public since announcing that it was on the verge of closing down, its president said.
Malai Hj Abdullah Malai Hj Othman said that the public's contributions have helped the centre for autistic individuals to stay afloat, but this does not guarantee its long-term existence until it has a permanent building to earn an income.
Realising that relying on donations is not a long-term solution, Smarter had planned programmes that could provide them with regular income.
However, carrying out the plans is only possible with a permanent building, the president said during yesterday's event which saw the Universiti Brunei Darussalam Volunteering and Charity Club handing over donations to the centre.
Malai Hj Abdullah said Smarter was hoping to open a few businesses which could help the centre generate income with a permanent building.
The current Smarter building in Sengkurong was lent by the Ministry of Health. "We don't know how long we can stay in this building," he said.
He said that Smarter understands that they will have to move out if the government decided to take back the building.
Not knowing how long they would be able to keep the building, it is possible that they could be asked to move within six months, the president added.
Malai Hj Abdullah explained that renting would add extra costs to Smarter's budget, adding more financial woes to the centre given its unstable situation.
He hoped that relevant agencies could help them, "if not in the form of money, but at least in the form of a building", to accommodate the children and ensure the continuation of their activities.
He expressed concerns that the children at Smarter were growing up and members will increase."We have 21 adults already out of 85. The other 60 will be adults soon that is why we need to have our own building and bigger building."
Students at the Kuala Belait centre, Brunei Autism Centre for Adults (Baca) were mostly ready for employment.
Smarter hoped that with a new building, students at its Kuala Belait centre, the Brunei Autism Centre for Adults, could run the businesses to generate their own income.
Having other agencies employ the students "may not benefit them at all because they may not be given the option to show their potential," Malai Hj Abdullah said.
"I don't want them to be asked to just sit and be paid," he added. It was important for the autistic individuals to gain job satisfaction and learn how to manage their finances, he added. — Nurhamiza Roslan
Source: The Brunei Times
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