Thanks to Eden Barayev, National Service volunteer, who produced the video! Enjoy!
Thursday, February 16, 2017
We are Moving ALong!
Here is a fun new video showing the progress that has been made on the building site so far, encouraging people to continue to support this project as the Center grows!
Thanks to Eden Barayev, National Service volunteer, who produced the video! Enjoy!
Thanks to Eden Barayev, National Service volunteer, who produced the video! Enjoy!
Thursday, February 9, 2017
Guide Dogs and Dalmatians Get Together To Teach Kids about Guide Dogs and Heroism
Dalmatians have traditionally been associated with firefighters. The speckled, robust dogs ran alongside
horse-drawn firefighters' wagons, clearing the road of other carriages, people,
and animals so firefighters could get through.
Since then they have served as mascots in fire stations and are often used
as an icon in many educational programs for teaching children fire prevention
and safety. It is no wonder that the Hero in You Foundation decided to adopt
the Dalmatian as its symbol.
The Hero in You Foundation was founded by Bunni and Rick Benaron of
California following the events of 2001.
The foundation's objective is to honor first responders, who help in
emergencies, and to teach children that they, too, can be heroes and perform
good deeds to help others. The
foundation has erected numerous Dalmatian puppy statues in fire stations,
schools, and parks throughout the United States to deliver the message that
anyone can help others and perform heroic acts.
When the foundation offered the Center a donation of one of their
colorful Dalmatian puppy statues, we decided that to place it in the nearby
city of Yavneh where the important message would reach as many children and
parents as possible. In 2016 a Dalmatian
puppy statue was placed in the city park in the "Green Neighborhood"
in Yavneh. The expansive park has lawns, a pond, play equipment, and a dog park
directly opposite the statue.
The center has joined the education department of the Yavneh municipality
in launching an educational project that combines ideas of heroism,
relationships between people and dogs, and the importance of our guide dogs in
helping people with blindness and visual impairments overcome their disability. The program, which was written by center
graduate Bracha Ben-Avraham, is being presented to schools and kindergartens in
Yavneh. It's part of our effort to get
our message across about the importance our heroic dogs are in improving the
lives of blind and visually impaired people.
On February 9th the program was presented to two
kindergartens in Yavneh, and the mayor of Yavneh Zvi Gov Ari, Noach Braun,
Dennis Allon, and Bracha Ben Avraham and her guide dog Dinka and the children posed
for photos next to the Dalmatian statue in the park.
Thursday, February 2, 2017
Congratulations are in Order!
In addition to the usual reports of upcoming courses, activities, and news,
today's staff meeting was marked by an exciting moment as Noach presented Yoav Ortov
with his diploma certifying him as a guide dog mobility instructor. Yoav began his apprenticeship in May 2013 and later spent six months at the
Oregon Campus of Guide Dogs of America, where he learned many techniques and
methods that he shared with his colleagues upon his return. Yoav completed his final examinations of the
International Guide Dog Federation to complete his training. Upon receiving his diploma Yoav remarked,
"I can't think of any work more rewarding than what I am doing here." Congratulations to Yoav and success in his
future work with us!
The staff also said goodbye to Yaniv Ben David, a volunteer from Munich who
spent the past several weeks working in the kennels. Yaniv, who loves dogs, is the son of an
Israeli family who became acquainted with the center through his grandparents
who are acquainted with center graduate Gadi Yarkoni. We wish Yaniv best of
luck and hope to see him and other enthusiastic volunteers at the center in the
future.
Yoav Ortov receiving his Guide Dog Instructor Qualification Certificate from Noach Braun |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)