Shade the way for change!
The SA Guide-Dogs Association is gearing up for its second annual ‘Wear Your Shades Day’ on Friday, 18 October. This eye-opening campaign encourages South Africans to show their support for the visually impaired while raising awareness of eye health. Slip on your shades and be part of a brighter, more inclusive future.
“Every year, our mission is to transform the lives of about 800 individuals by providing them with assistance dogs and long cane training,” said Pieter van Niekerk, spokesperson for the SA Guide-Dogs Association. Van Niekerk, who is visually impaired himself and a proud guide dog owner.
How to get involved:
- Purchase a sticker: Show your support by buying a R20 sticker. This can be done through the following channels:
- Online: Buy your digital sticker via the SA Guide-Dogs website at https://www.guidedog.org.za as a shop item
- Call: Contact one of the SA Guide-Dog offices to order your stickers. You can collect them from their offices or have them delivered.
- Selected resellers: Stickers are available at participating retailers including Pick n Pay, Falco Milano, Big Blue, Pet World, and BUCO Hardware Buildware.
- Wear your shades: On 18 October, wear your coolest shades with pride, alongside your sticker, to raise awareness about visual impairment and eye health.
- Share Your Shine: The SA Guide-Dogs Association invites you to Wear Your Shades and Share Your Shine by celebrating the unique brilliance that makes each of us special, regardless of our abilities.
Globally, at least 2.2 billion people have a near or distance vision impairment, and in at least 1 billion of these cases, it could have been prevented through measures such as wearing sunglasses as protection against the sun’s harmful UV rays. Wear Your Shades Day emphasises the importance of sunglasses, not just for protecting eye health, but also for helping visually impaired individuals feel more integrated and confident.
Funds raised from the campaign will directly support the SA Guide-Dogs Association’s programmes, including the breeding, raising, and training of assistance dogs for the visually impaired, physically disabled, and children on the autism spectrum, as well as providing orientation and mobility services.
Tag @sa_guide_dogs on Wear Your Shades Day wearing your sticker and shades, using the hashtags #shadesday #shareyourshine, and stand a chance to win amazing prizes.
For more information or to get involved, visit www.guidedog.org.za or contact them at info@guidedog.org.za.
Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news.
Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here or if you’re on desktop, scan the QR code below.
