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Samsung
hosts International
Guide Dog Seminar
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION of Guide Dog Schools for the Blind
(IFGDSB) holds the International Guide Dog Seminar every two
years. IFGDSB awarded this year’s seminar, the fourth seminar
in the sequence, to Samsung Guide Dog School in Korea.
It is a special sign of recognition for Samsung Guide Dog School
to host this seminar, especially since the Samsung Guide Dogs
School has a relatively short history of only eight years. Samsung
Fire and Marine Insurance is the sole sponsor for this seminar
and have provided accommodation for the seminar at the state
of the art corporate training facility in Yongin, South Korea,
about 30km south of the capital of Korea, Seoul.
The first Guide Dog Seminar was held in 1996 in France, in the
USA in 1998, then in England in 2000. One hundred delegates
from over 19 countries (US, France, UK, Finland, Japan, etc.)
will gather in Korea to discuss various topics such as training
techniques, volunteer programmes, puppy raising schemes, environmental
hazards, etc. Top professionals in the world of guide dogs will
address these topics and learn from one another, with the underlying
goal of providing better guide dog services for the visually
impaired people of the world.
The seminar will also include retirement recognition for Ken
Lord who has served in the distinguished Chairperson position
for IFGDSB and has been involved in the guide dog world for
over 40 years.
There will also be a special award ceremony for Samsung Chairman
Kun-Hee Lee in recognition of his service is visually impaired
persons through the establishment and support of Samsung Guide
Dog School and other canine programmes.
Interaction
Chairman
Lee and Samsung’s philosophy has been that the relationship
between people and pets - especially dogs - fosters a better
and less self-centred world. Samsung believes that in our
new millennium of technology and fast-paced business environment,
interaction with animals introduces a calmer, sensitive and
more holistic dimension to our world.
In addition to Samsung Guide Dog School, Samsung’s other
canine programmes include Search & Rescue Dogs, Therapy
Dogs, Agility Team, and Pet Ownership Programme (where select
breeds are carefully bred and are given out to selected Samsung
employees to better promote responsible pet ownership).
In addition to canine programmes, Samsung has an equestrian
team and hosts the Nations Cup in the UK, and recently, has
started Riding for Disabled programme for children as physical
therapy. These programmes are expressions of Samsung’s
belief in corporate responsibility to the community it operates
in - both in Korea and abroad, and exemplify Samsung commitment
to people and animal welfare as a top corporate agenda.
In the wake of the World Cup games, Samsung Guide Dog School
is hopeful that holding the seminar in Korea will have many
positive effects to increase public awareness of guide dogs
and visually impaired persons, in addition to improving the
current international impression of treatment of dogs in Korea.
Samsung celebrated ten years at Crufts as a major sponsor
this year.
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