First Week @ Association for the Blind of WA, Guide Dog WA

Hi everyone, today ticked off my first week of internship with Association for the Blind of WA, Guide Dog WA. Began my internship on Monday , that was my first job ever working in a NGO and sit in for a "9-5" job, I was being placed in Community Relations (CR) department and I have nine others colleague to work with. CR team has to look over ways to improve the funds that are going into the organisation, and everyone of us are being assigned to look after each of the program that are currently running in the association.

Association for the Blind of WA, Guide Dog WA's income are mainly depending on the donations from Corporate partners and general public, CR team had to work on the following channel to try to get as much help as possible:

1. Telesales- There will be a team of ladies that sit in the office and make phone calls to people in our database, encouraging them buying our Association's product, encouraging them to donate.

2. Direct Mail- One of CR team member is in-charge of this program, which is to send out 4 mails annually to those that has been donating to association, and 2 mails annually to those that are potential to be a donor.

3. Bequest- Another lady in our CR team is managing this program, this program is encouraging people to leave a gift for our association in their WILL.

4. Puppy Pals (known as puppy club last time) - This program is encouraging people to sponsor our puppies's breeding , while puppies are undergoing training to be Guide Dog.

5. Mini-Dog- This section of fund-raising is having the association's "plastic" dogs to be out in shops and supermarkets, encouraging publics to leave some coins into the mini-dogs.

6. Sponsors from Corporate- My supervisor is looking after this part of the fund-raising program in the association, allias with corporates to source for any possible sponsorship or funding to our association. I am currently working in this section.

There are major fund-raising events which the CR team will get involve throughout.

My work load for this first week were pretty easy-going, mainly doing on some admin work. At the same time, I was being asked by my supervisor to plan a fund-raising event through movie. I am now still at the planning phase, I will announce the details of the event if it is successful at any time soon.

There are some facts that I would like to share with regarding Association for the Blind of WA, Guide Dog WA.

• People may be unaware that our association does not only provide Guide Dogs to people who are blind, we still provide a whole range of different services; Education, "Vocal" library, skill classes (sewing, pottery), Counselling and etc.
• Association for the Blind does not only provide services and care to those who are legally blind, but also those that are vision-impaired.

NEXT BIG EVENT COMING-UP :

INTERNATIONAL GUIDE-DOG DAY (25th APRIL)

STREET-APPEAL (27th APRIL) -

Association's staff will be out on CBD streets at 7-9(am) with mini-dogs collecting money.

As a uni-student, you can help the association even by donating $2 monthly.

Philoemina Lee (14347681)

Curtin Bently