Mormon Newsroom Article about our Guide Dog Project

Mormon Humanitarian Organization Assists Blind People and Guide Dogs in Hungary

– BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

In 2017, LDS Charities, the humanitarian arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints approached the Hungarian Federation of the Blind and Partially Sighted (MVGYOSZ) to assess their needs and to discuss what assistance could be offered.

Through the ensuing cooperation the Hungarian organization received modern computer technology to facilitate equal online access for visually impaired Hungarians. At the same time, the Church’s volunteers conducted yard clean-up work at the MVGYOSZ Guide Dog Training Facility located in a suburb of Budapest.

“We had a great time, as it always happens when you sacrifice some of your time. It was nice to see that we could contribute a little to this wonderful work. The dogs were beautiful, intelligent, and they help a lot of people once their training is done here,” says one of the volunteers, Adrienn Csányi.

LDS Charities donated a MacBook, an iPhone, several Android devices, and two Braille displays–a 14 character pocket-sized one and a 40 character one to MVGYOSZ. The Hungarian organization in turn provides a special training to its members on how to use them, who can thus test the equipment and practice their use.

“This is expensive equipment in Hungary, and when a visually impaired person is making a decision to buy one, it’s good if they can test it personally beforehand, to see which one of these serves their needs best,” explains Gábor Angyal, the organization’s Chief Professional Officer.

In addition to demonstrating the technology to its members in Budapest, MVGYOSZ also trains the training staff at its regional centers, making a difference in the lives of the visually impaired well beyond the capital city, and across the entire country.

“We purchased equipment to train the trainers,” says Elder Moser, a senior missionary serving with LDS Charities in Hungary. “We didn’t only train 23 people, but [thus] we trained a lot more [who] can go out and help all the people in Hungary who are blind to live a better life.”

 LDS Charities operates various international humanitarian programs built on the principles of personal responsibility, community support, self-reliance, and sustainability. These include the provision of clean drinking water; international emergency response in the wake of natural disasters, civil unrest or famine; immunization; maternal and newborn care; vision care; as well as the provision of wheelchairs and various devices for those with disabilities.

LDS Charities also works with partner organizations across the world to increase the impact of such initiatives and ensure the best solutions to local needs.