Stirling student on track for Namibian adventure

Oct 12 2011 by Kaiya Marjoribanks, Stirling Observer Wednesday

FOR many people, leaving behind the comforts of home to work as a volunteer in Namibia would be a daunting prospect.

But for Stirling University student Robbie Newton (20), who has Asperger syndrome, the 17,880 kilometre round trip to the city of Windhoek to teach local children will be “the biggest challenge of my adult life”.

Asperger syndrome is a form of autism. The condition is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them.

People with the condition often prefer predictable routines that help them feel secure and make sense of the world around them. An estimated 50,000 Scots have autism, with nearly 400 thought to live in Stirling.

Adventurous Robbie is on track to raise the £500 online he will need to make the journey. When he arrives in the Namibian city of Windhoek in August 2012, the Joint Honours Sociology and Criminology student will be rolling up his sleeves and helping with painting, gardening and general local village maintenance, as well as teaching children at the local village summer school.

Robbie, originally from Gyle, Edinburgh, said: “Sometimes I’m a little frightened at what I’m taking on, but it’s also very exciting. It’s a brilliant opportunity and I can’t wait to meet the local people and learn more about their way of life. I’m expecting it to be a real eye opener.

“My Asperger syndrome means when unexpected and unpredictable things happen I can sometimes find it a bit confusing and upsetting.

“I’ll be travelling solo to Namibia and I’m taking the precaution of working out as detailed a travel schedule as possible. It will be a challenge, but I’m ready to meet that challenge head-on.”

Robbie has a track record of meeting the challenges of Asperger syndrome and overcoming them.

“At high school I struggled with the social side of things and sometimes I felt quite isolated.

“Face to face conversations can be confusing because facial expressions and turns of phrase can sometimes be hard for me to understand.

“I was worried about how I would manage at university but I was determined to succeed. Luckily the National Autistic Society (NAS) Scotland has been right behind me. I meet weekly with a fantastic NAS support worker called Lesley Pert. We chat about how things are going over a coffee once a week. It’s been a huge boost. Lesley has great ideas on strategies I can use in social situations to make them much easier for me. Now I love my studies and feel I’m really thriving at university.

“The support I have received from (NAS) Scotland has definitely given me the confidence to travel solo to Namibia.

“If it hadn’t been for NAS I would never have considered anything like this.”

Dr Robert Moffat, national director of the National Autistic Society Scotland said: “We know that many adults with autism aren’t able to get the support they need to fulfil their full potential.

“That’s why we’re delighted to be able to celebrate the fantastic achievements of Robbie Newton.

“At present 50,000 Scots have autism – that is one in 100. Some require a lifetime of care but many, like Robbie, can overcome the barriers of the condition to excel at their studies and make a real positive difference to the lives of others.

“Robbie is a great example of how the right help at the right time can make an enormous difference to the lives of people with autism.”

To support Robbie’s fundraising log on to crowdfunder.co.uk and go to investment/robbie-s-namibia-work-399