The HCF team recently visited the SA Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind at their Johannesburg campus. The association is dedicated to improving the lives of visually impaired individuals and children with autism, providing services such as training assistance dogs, advocating for the rights of people with disabilities to access public spaces with their assistance dogs, and training orientation and mobility practitioners who support visually impaired adults and children in developing adaptive skills for greater independence.
During our visit, we met with Tanya Schonwald, Head of Strategic Corporate Partnerships, Itumeleng Malefetsa, Public Relations Officer Pieter van Niekerk, and Executive Director Vernon Tutton. They shared valuable insights into the association’s mission and history, as well as the work and dedication of their team.
Another highlight of our visit was a tour of the campus, where we had the chance to meet some of the remarkable dogs in training. We witnessed a live training session, watching a skilled assistance dog as it practiced tasks that would one day provide vital support to a wheelchair-bound individual. Seeing the care and patience poured into these training sessions was heartwarming, as was meeting some of the visually impaired clients who were completing their final stages of training with their new companions.
Hearing firsthand how these dogs transform lives, fostering independence and confidence, was truly inspiring. This visit left us with a deep appreciation for the SA Guide-Dogs Association’s work and the remarkable impact they make in helping individuals lead more independent lives.
