Giving freedom and independence to the visually impaired, the South African Guide-Dogs Association announces its second annual Give a Cane Campaign.
- salifemag
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
Last year, South Africa helped raise enough to buy 500 white canes. This year, let’s double the impact, one R50 donation at a time
Following the success of the SA Guide-Dogs Association's inaugural Give a Cane Campaign in 2024, which managed to provide 500 white canes to people living with visual impairments, the South African Guide-Dogs Association is proud to announce the launch of Give a Cane 2025, from 12 May until 31 July, with an even bigger goal in sight.
This year, the campaign is calling on South Africans to help raise enough to fund the distribution of at least 1,000 white canes and essential orientation and mobility training. With donations towards a cane starting at just R50, everyone can be part of someone’s journey to independence.
“A white cane is so much more than a mobility aid, it’s freedom, dignity, and the confidence to move through life independently,” says Pieter van Niekerk, spokesperson for the SA Guide-Dogs Association and a white cane user himself.
Real lives. Real impact.
Take Mtale Moodise, a gym enthusiast from Cosmo City, who confidently walks himself to and from the gym with the help of his cane. Or Ceala, who lost her vision suddenly during matric, and after a year of adjustment and support, passed and is now studying Psychology at the University of Pretoria. Then there’s Henrick, who lost his sight at age eight and today is a first-year Law student with dreams of working in cybersecurity.
Each of these lives was changed by something as simple and as powerful as a white cane.
Why the white cane matters
The white cane used by SA Guide-Dogs is not a regular walking stick. It’s a specialised mobility tool with a rounded ball tip designed to detect changes in terrain, from sidewalks to tactile paving, and signal to others that the user is visually impaired. This promotes safety, awareness, and inclusion in public spaces.
Get involved
You don’t have to walk alone, and you don’t have to give big. A R50 donation helps bring someone closer to independence. You can also:
Host a dress-up day, walk-a-thon, or blindfold challenge at work or school
Encourage your book club, community, or running group to chip in
Start a R50 donation challenge at the office
Take part in an online gaming fundraiser
Walk, run, or cycle 50km and get sponsored
And if you're a business, don't forget, donations are eligible for Section 18a Tax Certificates.
Join the movement
Let’s go further in 2025. Help SA Guide-Dogs provide 1,000 canes and unlock the world for more people who are blind or visually impaired.
Donate now or set up your fundraiser at https://guidedog.org.za/give-a-cane/ or visit the GivenGain page here https://www.givengain.com/campaign/give-a-cane
