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In collaboration with the Hong Kong Guide Dog Association (HKGDA), CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team trained the volunteers to become Guide Dogs Seminar speakers. They then conducted seminars at different schools and organisations in the public and private sectors. Before hosting the seminars, CARE volunteers had to complete a set of training, which included sight guide technique and public speaking workshop. The training helped boost their understanding of effective communication with the visually impaired, as well as enhanced their public speaking skills and confidence.

In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Guide Dogs Seminars that were originally scheduled in late 2020 were postponed and resumed in July 2021. From July to September, CARE Team supported a total of ten seminars for primary and secondary school students, families, staff of non-profit organisations, as well as tertiary students. Since the audience came from diverse age groups with different educational backgrounds, HKGDA prepared a variety of seminar materials, which allowed flexible use of content and format to fit their needs.

The seminars were conducted on-site in lecture halls and activity rooms. In each session, one CARE volunteer acted as a speaker, while two others served as helpers to assist with seminar logistics such as gift distribution. Another special duty given to the volunteers was to guide the guide dog user and his/her guide dog to the venue. It provided a chance for the volunteers to utilise the sight guide techniques acquired in the previous training sessions.

These interactive seminars were of great significance not only because the public could gain more knowledge about guide dogs, but more importantly, an opportunity was provided for key stakeholders to learn about the public’s misunderstanding or stereotypes towards guide dogs and the visually impaired. In light of the concerns raised, it points a direction for public education in the future.