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Guide dogs are professionally trained to help people with visual impairment to enjoy their lives more independently, safely and flexibly through their company. However in Hong Kong, there are still situations where guide dogs are prohibited from entering public transportation and restaurants. These may create a lot of difficulties for guide dogs and their users in daily life.

Therefore, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Guide Dogs Association (HKGDA), CARE Team supported volunteers to participate in a public speaker programme, which aims at educating and informing all citizens of Hong Kong about guide dogs via seminars, to promote inclusivity in the society.

During training sessions across five consecutive weekends, volunteers have learnt sighted guide techniques and some effective ways to communicate with the visually impaired. Volunteers practised both outdoor and indoor guided walking exercises, and simulated the way of providing guides to the visually impaired to take the MTR. As for training regarding seminar, the class combined the use of situational exercises and sharing sessions by guide dog users and experienced public speakers, to better equip the volunteers with detailed content of seminar and proficient presentation skills.

Upon completion of training, volunteers would work with staff of HKGDA, as well as the visually impaired with their guide dogs, to provide Guide Dog Seminar for different schools and organisations. It is hoped that through the seminars, the general public would learn about the specialty and characteristics of guide dogs, hence enhancing public recognition, acceptance and support.