Millions of us take the fact that we have the ability to socialise, and interact with other people on a daily basis for granted, that we are accepted by society and that we are understood and can express the way we feel any time we want to. There are thousands of people who can’t.

Even worse than the fact that they can’t, is the fact that they go through most of their lives without ever fully understanding why they are in this situation. They have found out too late in life that they have a form of Autism.

If diagnosed early enough in life, it’s possible to help teach autistic children how to interact with the world, but unfortunately there aren’t enough private institutions that can afford to run a school for autistic children. There’s also not enough knowledge about autism out there.

Little Leaps is a school for children with autism based in Centurion, Johannesburg and is probably one of the most incredible places I have ever been to.

From the moment I walked into the school I was greeted with nothing less than warmth and love. From the principal Ashley Wagner, to all the teachers, and even the children – it’s indescribable.

I decided to go to this school and create this video together with OneTripleNine Productions to try and raise money so this school can survive, and to make people more aware about autism.

There was one boy who thought he was directing the whole shoot, showing us camera angles and giving me the script as well as saying “action!”… all in his own way of communicating. There was another child who was so shy but, by the end of the day, kept holding my hand and looking up at me.

These are some of the most loving children I have come across in my life.  Even after watching this video hundreds of times, just thinking about my experience there and typing it out gives me chills and brings tears to my eyes.

Please watch this video, share it if you can, and let’s hope that some of you can help keep this incredible environment alive.