An inspiring Giving Back at APPDA
Hello,
I’m Rodrigo Colaço, a Consulting Engineer in the PS Service Provider Core team at Cisco. My job is to support our customers to implement their SP networks, and for that I connect to the devices to configure, test, and so on! I love my job, but it can be cumbersome to do it all by hand, for that I don’t miss a chance to use programming skills and creating scripts. This is the reason why I consider myself a PS SP Core Automation Engineer.
However, today I am not here to share my role at Cisco but about my experience as a volunteer at the Associação Portuguesa para as Perturbações do Desenvolvimento e Autismo (APPDA).
One fact about me is that besides loving my job, I also love helping people and our community. Therefore, I always try to be involved in different Time2Give activities that Cisco organises. Time to Give (T2G) or Giving Back activities are volunteering initiatives organised by different teams at Cisco, where any employee can participate. This is one of the great advantages of working at Cisco: the company offers its employees ten paid days for this type of initiatives.
The most recent activity I participated in was a few weeks ago at APPDA, an institute that cares for people with autism. The Inclusive Community, Connected Disability Action Network (CDAN Portugal), organised this activity to help APPDA with the logistics of a party that the Association organised for its residents, partners, and staff. I would like to share that CDAN Portugal is an Inclusive Community at Cisco that aims to support people with physical and mental disabilities, create awareness about these topics, promote neurodiversity, and share best practices among the Cisco community. So, accompanied by my colleague Anastasia Chaloulakou, a member of the CDAN Portugal team, we enthusiastically joined the staff and volunteers to contribute our time and efforts to support this worthy cause.
From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with warmth and enthusiasm. The atmosphere at APPDA was incredibly welcoming, and it was evident that the staff and volunteers were dedicated to creating a supportive environment for everyone.
Throughout the day, I had the privilege of engaging with the wonderful individuals at the Institute. Interacting with them taught me invaluable lessons about empathy, understanding, and the power of human connection. It was inspiring to witness the resilience and unique abilities of each person, reminding me of the importance of embracing diversity and celebrating differences.
My primary responsibility during the day was to assist with logistics. I helped with the distribution of food and water, ensuring everyone had access to refreshments throughout the event. Additionally, I had the pleasure of running the drink stall with my teammates, where I interacted with visitors and participants, selling drinks to support the Institute’s fundraising efforts.
Seeing the smiles on the faces of the individuals we were serving, as well as witnessing the appreciation from their families and caregivers, made every moment of my volunteering experience deeply rewarding. The sense of fulfillment I experienced from making a small positive impact in their lives is beyond words.
APPDA is undoubtedly doing an incredible work for the autism community, and their commitment to fostering a nurturing and inclusive environment is admirable. The dedication of the staff and the passion of fellow volunteers left a lasting impression on me, and I’m grateful to have been a part of their mission, even if just for a day.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the CDAN Portugal team for providing me with this opportunity through the T2G program. Such initiatives not only allow employees like me to give back to the community but also highlight the importance of corporate social responsibility and making a difference in the lives of others.
My day at APPDA was an enriching experience that deepened my understanding of autism, reinforced the significance of volunteering, and instilled in me a sense of purpose to continue supporting causes that promote inclusivity and compassion.
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