Canine Partners Charity Trip
My Canine Partners Charity Trip: organised by Charity Challenge.
In October 2009 I had the privilege of travelling to Tanzania to help with the building of a much needed primary school in Choba village near Pangani.
Each UK volunteer was also able to raise money for a charity of their choice.
In my case I was collecting for Canine Partners, the charity that trains assistance dogs for people with disabilities.
In Choba village at the moment there is one small building which is used for all the children in the village - from nursery through to 11 years old.
They stagger its use so that the younger children use it for the first part of the day and the older children take over mid-morning.
Our job was to help with the build of the primary school which is to be opened in January 2010, providing a dedicated space for the older children.
Raising Money
Part of the money we raised was collected on a very successul jazz evening in Brighton featuring Mark Basssey and his Quartet. Husbands are useful like that ;)
Thank you to all those who came along in the summer of 2009 and spent money on tickets, drinks and the raffle. We had a great evening with Mark managing to weave 'doggy tunes' into the jazz repertoire - eg. "A Doggy Day in London Town"
An account of the evening is on the Dogs Blog on 19th July 2009
Other ways to help
If you have a charity collection point near you, there are certain items that are desperately needed in parts of Africa. Find out how you can help.
The following could be really useful so think twice before you throw them away:
children's shoes
children's books
games, tennis balls etc
school items such as pencils and exercise books
old mobile phones
spectacles
clothes
In the developed world we all have far too much whilst in the developing world they all have far too little. Try and find a cause close to you where you can help to redress this balance.
The shoes your child has outgrown will protect a small child's feet on his or her walk to school, often through the bush. Think twice before you throw them away.
The Just Giving site closes in January 2010: Just Giving.com You can leave an anonymous donation if preferred! This money is for Canine Partners.
Canine Partners
Here are some of the dogs that have aleady been trained by Canine Partners and are 'out there' making a difference.
Here's Frodo, helping in the
supermarket. The dogs are
trained to pick up things
from the shelves as well
as giving the purse to the
cashier at the end of the shop.
Playing with a tugtoy as
a puppy, progresses to
useful tasks such as opening
a door, pulling someone
up in bed and helping
them undress. This is Kermit
showing how it's done!
Lorca is Cheryl Smith's Canine Partner. She writes:"Orca is fantastic. He goes everywhere with me and I feel lost without him. He's my peace of mind."
For so many people, dogs can offer confidence and a sense of well-being amidst the stresses and strains of everyday life. A Canine Partner such as Frodo, Kermit and Orca can transform lives, enabling a person with disabilities to lead a more independent and fulfilling life as well as leading to greater employability.
Thank You!
Hilary Burt
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