The Rotary Club of Makati continues to make a significant impact through its Art Therapy Workshop for students with autism at Stepping Stone School in Parañaque. The recent 10-day workshop, which ran from June 24 to July 26, concluded with a culmination activity attended by RC Makati members, led by President Keith Harrison, along with Baby Rotarians Patrick Parungao and newly inducted member Roy Moss. The summer workshop, held every Monday and Wednesday, aimed to provide art therapy to children with special needs, fostering their creative and emotional development through a series of carefully crafted sessions.
This initiative is a collaboration between the Rotary Club of Makati and the Fernando Amorsolo Foundation, spearheaded by Mr. Nandy Amorsolo Lazo, the grandson of the celebrated national artist Fernando Amorsolo. The project, which began during the term of IPP Bing Matoto, is being continued by Pres. Keith Harrison, who has a strong commitment to supporting people with disabilities, especially those with autism.
In his opening remarks, President Keith Harrison expressed his happiness and gratitude for a program that provides purpose and meaning to individuals with special needs, particularly through art. He emphasized the importance of having a purpose in life for everyone, especially for those with special needs and their parents. Pres. Keith shared his personal experience as a parent of a 32-year-old autistic child who, despite severe autism and lack of spontaneous speech, has found joy and purpose in art/painting. He recalled that his son started painting in his early 20s and has been creating art for over a decade, bringing him immense pleasure. Pres. Keith mentioned having videos on his phone of his son both displaying his artwork at exhibitions and working on new pieces. He hopes the program continues to provide purpose, meaning, and enjoyment to all participants, both now and in the future. He concluded by expressing his personal connection and emotional response to the program, thanking everyone involved.
After the speeches, the children were awarded certificates to acknowledge their completion of the program. The guests also had the opportunity to tour the school’s facilities, led by Stepping Stone’s executive director, Dayal Nandwani, and trustee Peter Solomon. The tour was followed by a sumptuous lunch prepared by Stepping Stone, during which discussions were held about potential opportunities to further develop the school’s services for children with special needs.
The Rotary Club of Makati and its partners are proud to continue this program with the next phase planned to be with special children at the General Pio del Pilar National High School in Poblacion. As this program is continued we can further assess the positive aspects of art lessons/therapy to the development of children with autism.
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