Matched Giving Day 2024 at Seeing Eye Dogs Melbourne.
Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs is hoping the generosity of Australians can help it prepare more young people for a life changing Seeing Eye Dog.
Seeing Eye Dogs held a special Giving Day on International Guide Dog Day, with funds raised going towards expanding the Seeing Eye Dogs Youth Program. The Youth Program provides young people aged 12-18 with support to develop the qualities they need before they can be matched with a Seeing Eye Dog.
Now in its third year, Seeing Eye Dogs Youth Program Instructor Brooke Anderson said the program is a vital part in preparing the next generation of Seeing Eye Dog handlers. “There’s no doubt a Seeing Eye Dog can change the life of someone who is blind or has low vision, but being matched with one is a big responsibility,” Brooke said.
“The earlier we can equip young people with the necessary orientation and mobility skills and dog care knowledge, the earlier they can begin the process of being matched with a Seeing Eye Dog and benefit from the impact they can have.”
The Youth Program runs for 10 months, with participants receiving one-on-one support sessions, as well as attending a camp at Seeing Eye Dogs’ Melbourne headquarters, where they are given the opportunity to experience handling a Seeing Eye Dog and also meet the other participants.
“Traditionally, people have begun the Seeing Eye Dog process after the age of 18. The Youth Program doesn’t guarantee somebody a Seeing Eye Dog after completion, but it puts them in the position to know if a Seeing Eye Dog is right for them,” Brooke said.
“We have participants from all over Australia participate in the program and through the Giving Day we’re asking people to help us provide the opportunity for even more young people. “Every year we’ve seen the attitudes of our participants change as their understanding grows of how a Seeing Eye Dog can support them to be active and independent in the community like their friends and family.”
19-year-old student Jasmine Tevelein completed the Youth Program in 2023 and after it gave her an idea of life with a Seeing Eye Dog, she wasted no time in joining the Seeing Eye Dogs waitlist. “Currently I use a white cane when I’m out and about and need a sighted guide at night,” Jasmine said. “During the camp, when we got to walk with a Seeing Eye Dog it was just this freeing feeling as soon as I had the harness in my hand. It really felt like I could do anything I wanted. “I’ve heard people say that’s how they feel when they get their driver’s license and that’s exactly what is was like for me.”
The Seeing Eye Dogs Youth Program Giving Day was held on International Guide Dog Day – today, Thursday, 24 April 2024.
Thanks to the generous support of Seeing Eye Dogs’ corporate partners including Zoetis, Vivcourt and Corporate Match 2, every dollar donated on the day will be matched up to $100,000!
Lord Murray Schoorman went along for a special tour of the facility and to meet the people who make all this possible, a mix of volunteers and staff who, together; breed, raise, train and match seeing eye dogs with vision impaired people. All photos published by this masthead have been supplied by peakhourimages
The volunteers working the phones had proudly raised over $10,000 by 10am! With many calls to go, it was expected that they would meet their intended target by the close of the day and all eyes would then be on making this initiative an annual event.
Donations can be made online at seeingeyedogs.org.au/givingday
