Absa supports orientation and mobility at the South African Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind – a collaboration in celebration.
For the past 70 years, South African Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind (GDA) has dedicated itself to positively enhance the world of people with visual or physical impairment and in recent years also for children with autism – Changing Lives every day. Absa is a truly African brand, inspired by the people it serves and determined to be an active force for good in the communities in which it operates.
The Association has progressed throughout the years, from humble beginnings, to an internationally recognised, financially trusted and sustainable organisation that is future-focused and progressive, without ever losing focus on that which matters most: our beneficiaries. We are proud to be a driving force in South Africa on all matters of inclusivity and diversity, as is Absa. The synchronicity between the partners is exciting and in obvious alignment!
Absa Group Limited is listed on the JSE and is one of Africa’s largest diversified financial services groups, with a presence in 12 countries across the African continent, as well as offices in the United Kingdom and the United States. Absa is a long-term partner of the Association. Our values are completely aligned. The most evident mutual purpose between our organisations, the pinnacle where our values merge, is with inclusion and diversity.
The South African Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind’s College of Orientation and Mobility opened in 1974 and specialises in the education and qualification of instructors in the skills of Orientation and Mobility and skills of daily-living so that they impart their knowledge to improve the living experience of people with visual impairment.
The College provides a two-year National Diploma: Orientation and Mobility Practice (SAQA ID 67373) and is fully accredited with the ETDP SETA (NQF Level 5). Absa is committed to assisting the students enrolled to become Orientation and Mobility practitioners financially and to achieve the goals that they have set out to achieve. Orientation and Mobility Practitioners work with the Association to bring daily living skills such as route navigation, adapting to home life, participating in society and employment, to the visually impaired in historically and economically disadvantaged areas.
Freedom and Independence are gained through the use of the White Cane and the dedication of the Orientation and Mobility Practitioners to change the lives of their clients. These services are available free to our clients across Gauteng and the Western Cape – working with Absa and truly transforming this beautiful country.
Absa is a long-term funder of this programme at the South African Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind and has recently made another substantial financial investment into this programme, enabling skills development whilst contributing to the lives of the visually impaired.
Should you be interested in a unique collaboration such as the GDA/Absa partnership and would like to invest in similar endeavours, please contact Tanya Schonwald at 011 705 3512/ 084 6716359 or tanyas@guidedog.org.za . Also visit our website https://guidedog.org.za/ or follow us on all the social media platforms.
