Tonaton’s “Green Heart Foundation” has donated a cheque for GHC10,000 to the Autism Awareness Training Centre in Accra.

Presenting the cheque, Managing Director Mrs. Sandra Abrokwa Owusu-Kyerematen said the donation forms part of the company’s corporate social responsibility -- adding that the autism Centre was chosen in order to help address some of its challenges, and also to create awareness and educate the public about the disorder.

The Founder and Director of the Centre, Mrs. Serwaa Quaynor, expressed her gratitude to Tonaton for its kind gesture and pleaded with other organisations to follow in the steps of Tonaton by extending support to the Centre, which has been ignored by the public even though it renders a valuable service to the community.

“This Centre has helped a lot of children with autism whose parents at first thought they were hopeless. Sometimes they are surprised to discover what talents their children have when they bring them here.

“So we are pleading with the public to know that autism is not caused by any evil spirit; it is a disorder that can affect any child, and so parents should not hesitate to report it when they detect it in their children,” she said.

The Green Heart Foundation was established by Tonaton to court the support of celebrities to sell their products on the Tonaton platform and the proceeds be given to charity.

According to the Managing Director of Tonaton, four celebrities -- namely John Dumelo, Deborah Vanessah, Joyceline Dumas and Efia. However, Deborah Vanessah -- have been selected as brand ambassadors for the foundation.

According to Ms. Deborah, her motivation for joining the campaign to raise funds for the sector came from her previous participation in a fundraising programme in the UK for an autism centre established by her aunt.

She further pleaded with the public to disabuse their minds of the superstition that tends to associate autism and its causes to witchcraft and other supernatural factors.