SMARTER (Society for the Management of Autism Related Issues in Training, Education and Resources) Brunei is planning to host a gala night in February or March next year to raise $100,000 through donation and sponsorship to help the organisation stay afloat for at least 12 months.
"We are going to showcase 50 per cent of the presentations by our individuals with autism, and the other 50 per cent will be performances by our local artists," Smarter President Malai Hj Abdullah Hj Malai Othman told The Brunei Times yesterday.
He added, "We are trying to do this because we need to generate more money to sustain ourselves for the next 12 months."
On November 18, Smarter received $50,000 from Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (YSHHB), as financial assistance for the management and activities undertaken by the organisation.
Malai Hj Abdullah said he was "very happy" for the contribution they received from the foundation.
"The money will help us stay afloat for the next six months," he said.
He shared that with all the donation Smarter received from various organisations recently, it was a "moral booster for him".
"I would like to thank them and the Brunei people for their generosity and support in helping us," he said.
However, he added, if they still could not manage to obtain sustainable income,it would be back to square one for them where they would have to seek for financial help again.
"We will definitely be going under again if we do not get sustainable income, and we will be screaming for help again," he said.
Although that might be so, he added, he was still optimistic enough to plan strategically for the next five years.
He also mentioned that Smarter was still struggling to get its very own building.
"We are still in the process of trying to get our own building, so our overheads will be minimal," he said.
The president explained that as Smarter's Brunei Autism Centre for Adults (Baca) has an "overflowing capacity", they are in dire need of getting their own building as soon as possible.
"Next year apart from receiving more individuals with autism at Smarter, we will also need to accommodate 10 more adults at Baca," he said, stressing the very reason why they needed a bigger facility.
In a previous report, it said that the current Smarter building in Sengkurong was lent to them by the Ministry of Health (MoH).
Malai Hj Abdullah said that they would have to move out if the government decided to take back the building. He also said that they didn't know how long they would be able to keep the building, but it was possible that they could be asked to move within six months.
The Smarter president explained that renting would add extra costs to Smarter's budget, adding more financial woes to the centre given its unstable situation.
Source: The Brunei Times
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