Every December, Artfield Institute of Design pauses to give back to the community that shapes us. This year, our annual charity initiative took on a deeper meaning as we partnered with the Dorna Centre Home for Autism, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children and young people with autism, their families, and the wider autism community.
The engagement lasted five days, during which our lecturers and students led hands-on crafting sessions for the children. What began as an outreach activity quickly grew into a warm exchange of creativity, patience, and genuine human connection. The initiative was championed by the Guild President, Goodluck Turyahebwa, working closely with the Office of the Dean of Students to ensure the experience was both impactful and memorable.
For many of our students, this was their first time interacting with children on the autism spectrum. What they expected to be an instructional session turned into something far more personal. The children’s warmth, innocence, and enthusiasm created moments that moved some to tears. Students who walked in as strangers ended the week deeply attached to the children, touched by how affectionate, trusting, and naturally adorable they are. Misconceptions melted away and were replaced by understanding, admiration, and respect.
The week culminated on Friday the 28th with a colorful event held at Artfield Institute of Design. Families, guests, staff, and students gathered to celebrate the children’s achievements. The event opened with a heartfelt musical performance by a band made entirely of students with autism—a performance that quietly reminded everyone present of the talent and determination these young people carry within them.
This was followed by a showcase of their crafting projects, each piece a reflection of the children’s unique abilities and the confidence they had gained throughout the week. One of the most touching moments came when every participating child was awarded a certificate. Watching their faces light up—along with the pride and emotion in their parents’ eyes—was a moment that will stay with many of us for a long time.
By the end of the event, one truth stood unmistakably clear: these children are not defined by society’s misconceptions. They are gifted, imaginative, and wonderfully capable—abled differently, not less.
This Christmas, our collaboration with the Dorna Centre didn’t just give us the chance to serve; it opened our hearts. We learned, we connected, and we celebrated abilities that deserve to be acknowledged
