Light Into Europe Foundation Report 2015

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LIGHT INTO EUROPE CHARITY

Foundation Report 2015

Guide Dogs

for the Blind

ROMANIA

www.lightintoeurope.org.ukwww.facebook.com/LightintoEuropeCharity


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Contents

Foreword ................................................... 3

Capt. Stan Platt, OBEChairman of Light into Europe .................. 4

Camelia Platt,CEO of Light into Europe Charity ............. 6

Gabriel and Lewis (& formerly Chloe) ........ 8

Adrian and Veronica Benchea & Max ...... 10

Cristi Moldovan and Hamish ................... 12

Cati Zgubea and Klint.............................. 14

Magda and Heidi ..................................... 16

Petra Pintelei ........................................... 18

Lăcrămioara Pintelei (Mrs. Lili) ................. 20

Anca Vasile,Guide Dog Programme Manager ............ 22

Severian Pavel,

Guide Dog Instructor ............................... 24

Mr. Alan Brooks,

Senior Guide Dog Consultant .................26

Mr. Sean Dilley,

Board Member, Light Into Europe ........... 27

Volunteers ................................................ 29

Foundation Finances .............................. 30

editor: Ruth Rusby ● design: Alexandru Ionescu ● photos: Severian Pavel, Ruth Rusby


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Foundation Report 2015 3

Foreword

Over a lunch of haggis soup back inFebruary I suggested to Capt. StanPlatt and his team that we should try to put

together a Foundation Report for Light IntoEurope and capture some of the stories ofthe beneficiaries. They all welcomed theidea with great enthusiasm and excitement.I slightly panicked, as I realized that while Icould write, I had absolutely no idea how tointerview blind people.

Gradually I learned that some would beable to read my emails and answer them,

whilst others I could interview in person. Thewhole experience was at once fascinatingand deeply humbling. With Seve’s help and afew friends translating questions and answersfor me, we managed to capture some of thefeeling of isolation, despair and entrapmentthat many people with disabilities feel in thiscountry. We also discovered stories of hopeand the incredible pathways to a new life thata guide dog can bring.

We interviewed Petra, who is currentlystudying at University and her mum, Mrs. Lili

(Lăcrămioara), who coordinates the creativeeducational services for many of the deafchildren. Mr. Alan Brooks is the Senior Guide

Dog Consultant from the UK who advises ourtwo top guide dog trainers Anca and Seve,whose stories appear on pp. 22 and 24.Mr. Sean Dilley is a political journalist from theUK and Board Member of Light Into Europewho brings his real experience of being aguide dog user for the last 17 years.

As well as the Financial Reports onp. 30 we also have interviews with Capt. Stan

Platt, Chairman of Light Into Europe and Mrs.Camelia Platt, CEO which delve into some ofthe history of the charity as well as the futureahead.

As this is the first attempt at such areport by Light Into Europe, we welcome anyfeedback. Please dip into a new story fromtime to time, and if you have ideas, or wish tocontribute your time or make a donation, letus know.

Ruth Rusby, Bucharest, April 2016


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4 Light into Europe Charity

Capt. Stan Platt, OBE, Chairman of Light into Europe

Capt. Stan Platt is from Essex and firstvisited Romania in the aftermath of therevolution in 1990 when he flew a group ofAnglicans from London to Romania.

“From my first moments in Arad andtravelling from city to city,” says Stan, “I felt awarmth from the people. I felt I had to comeback and try to make a difference. I really feltneeded. So did hundreds of Brits. I was part ofa movement for change.”

Light Into Europe was founded in 1986,making it now 30 years old. Initially it was setup to fly medical evacuations in Poland andother Eastern European countries. Stan flew

hundreds of flights with the Air Ambulanceservice, of which he was chief in Romania until2003/4, when the reins were handed over toSMURD.

“We flew many missions with Dr. Arafat,”says Stan. “In 2004 I thought we would returnto the UK. I even sent my fishing rods there.But Camelia, my wife, had other ideas!”

Camelia Platt had surveyed the needs ofthe country and found two Cinderella groups,the deaf and the blind, which she consideredmost needed their help. The guide dog workbegan in 2005 with a visit to Guide Dogs forthe Blind UK.


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“At the time it wasn’t clear how to establishsuch an organization in Romania when eachguide dog costs around £50, 000,” says Stan,“so we shelved it for the time being and

focused on other ways to help the blind anddeaf.”

Things changed when Petra Pintelei, oneof the charity’s blind beneficiaries, won a sixweeks old “guide dog” puppy after coming firstsinging in a TV talent show.

“Petra asked me to take the puppy in, as shewas too young to consider a guide dog,” says

Stan. “The puppy was totally untrained, but witha lot of help we trained it and she became ourvery first guide dog Chloe.”

Stan has always loved dogs. When he was aboy his family bred poodles and Pekingese andthey had up to 30 at a time.

“On Saturdays my grandmother would ask fora dog show on the lawn and all the kitchen chairs

came out,” says Stan. “We had a dog on eachchair groomed by my sister and myself in orderthat my grandmother could choose the winner!”

Guide dogs are bred specifically for theirtemperament. They must have the right level ofhealth and loyalty and be sure to never bark orbite. They have to bond well to a new user, transfertheir affections and become an indispensablepart of a beneficiaries’ life.

“Guide dogs have an average working lifeof 6-7 years,” says Stan, “and we estimate thereis a need for 1200 guide dogs in Romania. Atpresent we have 11 working dogs and we hopeto increase this to 50 in the next few years.”

In order to achieve this, a permanent,sustainable guide dog training centre is needed,along with a self-sufficient Romanian team who

can carry the service forward. A building hasrecently been identified as suitable and the teamhopes that with further financial support this canbecome a reality.

“There is a huge amount of work involved inrunning the current program,” says Stan, “and wereally need more volunteers to help take some ofthe workload on.”

With many new technologies becomingavailable to the deaf and blind communities itseems that one day sign language, Braille and theuse of guide dogs may become outdated.

“In the UK there is a separate deaf culture,where whole families use sign language tocommunicate,” says Stan. “The same cultureexists here in Romania, but the authorities don’trealize that with the UN Convention on the Rightsof Disabled People, sign language can be madean official language here too.”

“Braille is a wonderful experience,” Stan says,

“as it enables blind people to read and relax, justas we read and relax.”

It is clear that there will always be a need forguide dogs too. It is not just the seeing eyes thatthey provide, but the companionship and loyalfriendship they give that helps open up newworlds for the beneficiaries.

Stan would like to see the government pass

legislation that supports the work that he and histeam do and would like the local community itselfto be more considerate.

“Things like not parking on the pavement areimportant,” says Stan, “being considerate andmaking space for a guide dog and user to pass,not touching working guide dogs. So many wayswe could improve things with just a little moreeffort, but of course this all starts with us!”


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Mrs. Camelia Platt was born and raisedin Craiova. She met Capt. Stan Platt in1993 and began working as a volunteer forLight Into Europe. In 1997 Camelia movedto Bucharest and from 2003 onwards shebegan to be involved full-time with the charity.

Camelia and Stan have a son, George, whowill turn seven in July 2016.

Whilst initially working as a volunteer,Camelia reached a turning point in herprofessional career when she realized thecorporate life she led didn’t really fit with herlife ideals and aspirations.

“I’d rather help somebody else,” saysCamelia, “you can make a huge differencein somebody’s life, without worrying aboutcorporate limitations.”

Camelia came from the PR and CorporateSocial Responsibility (CSR) field, but wasfrustrated when the corporate guidelines didnot allow very worthy causes and desperatepeople to be supported. Which is why sheswitched to full-time working for the charity.

“I then realized I wasn’t trained in workingwith vulnerable people,” says Camelia, “Ineeded to be qualified. So I became qualifiedas an Occupational Therapist in the UK.”

In 2003, Camelia carried out a countrywideanalysis of the needs of disabled people inRomania. She studied information and statisticsfrom special schools, services provided for

disabled, CSR reports from companies and soon. Through this she identified the needs ofthe blind and deaf as being particularly poorlysupported.

“Between 1993 and 2003 Light Into Europedid massive amounts of work renovatingkindergartens, orphanages, hospitals andspecial schools,” says Camelia. “Through thiswe got quite a good perspective on the needsof various groups in Romania.”

They used the support of some of the stafffrom the Air Ambulance work that Stan wasinvolved in to help with the renovations. Theyalso had some 10-12 doctors as volunteers.

“The work we did had a huge impact,”says Camelia. “We estimate that between1993 and 2003 the minimum value of thedonations, transport, materials, medicalsupplies and educational material providedwas not less than £2 million. This mainly camefrom donations from the UK.”

Everything came from the UK, fromblankets to syringes, to special beds forsurgical theatres. They also had about 100 UKvolunteers.

“Nowadays it is hard to find such support,”says Camelia, “as Romania is not seen to be aparticularly good example of progress since1990.”

Today Camelia is CEO of Light Into Europe.She still likes to spend much of her time as anOccupational Therapist working directly withthe deaf and blind children.

Camelia carries out the functionalevaluation of people with vision impairment.She also helps decides the font size and

contrast needed for the large print text booksthat the charity provides.

“The problem is the lack of informationand awareness that the general public has,”says Camelia. “We have had audiences withall different kinds of people and campaignnon-stop for disability awareness. Companiesare not open to talk about disabilities.”

There is now a European Directiveon education and creating awareness of

disabilities.“Some companies believe talking about

disabilities has a negative emotional impacton employees,” says Camelia. “There is so


Mrs. Camelia Platt, CEO of Light into Europe


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much ignorance. We need to break downthese barriers and destroy these myths.”

The World Health Organisation nowestimates that 1 in 7 people are affected

by disability. With an aging population andincrease in chronic diseases such as diabetesand obesity, this is predicted to increase.

“In Romania, some people are not awarethat blind people can have their eyes open,”says Camelia, “depending on the cause ofblindness. There is a stigma about blindness,and blind people are believed to have closedeyes.”

It is true there are not many disabledpeople visibly seen on the streets. This is putdown to a lack of understanding and tolerance.

“With increased understanding, educationand more accessible public spaces,” saysCamelia, “other people would benefit such asthe elderly, mums with prams and people withtemporary disabilities. Also people who’ve

just undergone surgery, who need a stick, feela bit dizzy and so on.”

Camelia explains that during Communism,everyone expected somebody else to

take care of things. Now, 26 years after theRevolution, Romania is supposed to be amodern European country.

“How many new buildings have beenbuilt in the last decade with the disabled inmind?” says Camelia, “With the well-being ofemployees? This attitudinal barrier is the mostdifficult.”

Camelia hopes that her and the charity’swork will pave the way for better understandingand result in CSR departments looking at

charities differently.“You can’t look at the success of charities

with the same pair of glasses as corporateresults,” says Camelia. “It’s not like planting atree and seeing it grow 30 cm a year. Disabilitiesinvolve ongoing and long-term progress.”

Disability is still such a taboo subject inRomania and there is a reticence for companiesto invest in disabilities.

“What I say to companies is that 70-80%

of blind or deaf people just have that onedisability,” says Camelia. “This means they areable to compensate and work effectively in anormal working environment.”

If there were sufficient funds to role outa continuation of the services the charityprovides, instead of individual isolatedprojects, the overall effects would snowball.The charity would like to see more funding ofthe early intervention program leading to morebeneficiaries attending university courses andbecoming fully active and engaged membersof society. This requires a long-term, ongoingcommitment.

“What the charity provides is white sticks,Braille books, sign language training andguide dogs,” says Camelia. “But the disableddeserve more than this. The community shouldmobilize resources. Many Romanians expecta quick fix – that they can volunteer for one

day.”

If you want to play with a deaf child for oneday, first you have to learn to communicate insign language. With blind people you have tolearn about orientation and mobility.

“The charity now relies on some 70volunteers,” says Camelia. “Mostly theseare involved as puppy walkers in the guidedogs programme. Some of the dogs rotateamong different volunteers. Some are respite

volunteers. Some of the working dogs mayneed special care if their beneficiary partneris not well.”

Light Into Europe is fortunate to havea reliable group of volunteers mainly fromUbisoft. Camelia and her team approachedseveral companies with the idea of lookingfor people to host the puppies at home in theevening and bring them to work during the daywhen they were not being formally trained.Ubisoft was the first company to respond.

“This began in 2012 with all the A letterpuppies from Midi (Midnight) being hosted byUbisoft volunteers,” says Camelia, “except forAngus who was hosted by Martin Harris, theBritish Ambassador at the time.”

Camelia believes that Romania needsmore consistent disabled legislation with aproper implementation framework.

“On average the charity manages tosupport some 2000 blind or deaf beneficiarieseach year,” she says “with access to large printor Braille text books, sign language, weeklyeducational support, orientation and mobilityand, of course, the guide dogs.”



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Gabriel and Lewis (& formerly Chloe)

Gabriel Nicolescu is 56 years old andfrom Bucharest. He became an insulindependent diabetic in 1973 and in 1995started to lose his vision, becoming blind

in 1997. He has always loved animals andhas trained German shepherds, in particular“Rocky”. His second marriage was to TatianaFlorentina in 2005. Gabriel has alwaysbeen active, founding Romania Connect in1990 and in 2014 founding and becomingpresident of a national association of peoplewith disabilities.

“I like old rock music, touring and meetingwith friends when my health allows,” saysGabriel.

In 2009 he contacted Light Into Europe

charity. That autumn he was told he would bethe first recipient of a guide dog in Romania.He initially was taught to walk with a cane andin October began working with Chloe.

“The first day I was excited, for me it wassomething new to feel the equipment put onthe guide dog,” says Gabriel. “Chloe wascheerful, like me and I quickly got to care for

her.”

Eventually on 27th June 2010, theinstructor told him “You are ready, startingfrom today you and Chloe will be together allthe time!”

Chloe brought Gabriel great joy and lightin his life and was almost like a child to himand his wife. Gabriel and Chloe attended

charitable events together, as well hastravelling to Zagreb and Amsterdam for theEuropean Federation of Guide Dogs. Theyalso went on holidays to the seaside andDanube Delta and have participated in ralliesfor disabled accessibility in Bucharest.

Sadly this all came to an end on 20thAugust 2015 when Chloe died during anoperation for a twisted stomach.

“Talking about her always makes me cry,”says Gabriel, “but what remains are memoriesof some beautiful years together.”

In September 2015, the charity suggestedhe took on Lewis.

“I accepted with great joy,” says Gabriel,“although in my heart I still had Chloe.”

He started working with Anca (the trainer)

and Lewis and everything went well. Chloeand Lewis are very different both in colour(one golden, the other black) and in nature asLewis is much quieter.

“On May 30th we will celebrate Lewis’s6th birthday with a small cake and spoil him,”says Gabriel.

Lewis quickly learns the new routes and

avoids all obstacles. In heavy traffic, in areaswithout tactile paving and acoustic trafficlights they must be particularly careful.


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“We risk our lives crossing someintersections,” says Gabriel. “Even with areflective vest and sometimes a white cane.”

The movement of a disabled person andguide dog can be quite dangerous due tothe lack of accessibility and disrespect orindifference of many people.

“Although the legal framework is there itis not always applied,” says Gabriel. “I havebeen hit three times by cars and twice fell inthe sewer.”

Lewis is like a new baby to Gabriel and

Tatiana. They consider him a true friend, takecare and protect him and start each dailyadventure together. Gabriel walks him at 7am, and when his health allows, at noon andin the evening.

“Everywhere I go I take Lewis,” saysGabriel. “I try to explain to people what aguide dog does, to understand accessibilityand to help people with disabilities to be less

isolated.”

Life can be challenging. People run intoGabriel, wearing the vest, with a cane and aguide dog and exclaiming he doesn’t see wherehe’s going.

“Now I don’t get upset, I laugh,” says Gabriel,“and explain to them I’m blind. I’ve been hitthree times by cars, I have been refused entryinto some shops, but since 2011 the regulation

has improved.”

Unfortunately there is still much work tobe done. Gabriel has appeared six times ontelevision campaigning for people to understandwhat it means for a blind person to be on a streetwith a guide dog.

He advises a guide dog is only for blindpeople that love animals and are willing to takecare of a “friend with four paws”. They mustnot allow the dog to become obese, shouldbe affectionate and be willing to go outside forwalks regardless of the weather.

“Most importantly,” says Gabriel, “it is likebeing a parent to a child with fur and four paws.”

“The local communitymust become more

involved,” he advises.“I was on trial for therights of people with

disabilities from 2008to 2013 and still waitthe judgement of the

ECHR.” Many of the accessibility projects funded

by the EU are incorrectly realized and though

Romania is an EU member and has signed manytreaties and conventions on the rights of disabledpeople, they are still not widely respected.


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Adrian and Veronica Benchea & Max

Adrian and Veronica are in their early 30sand have been married since 2010. Theywork as masseurs at the “Ghicelui” AradTherapy and Rehabilitation Center

for children and are qualified socialworkers. They have both suffered fromabsolute blindness since birth.

“For us, the idea for a guide dogwas an unfulfilled dream”, says Adrian.“It seemed unattainable in Romania.”

In the summer of 2014 they metMax, an Irish guide dog, in Bucharest.

“Something virtually impossibleto explain was sparked then,” saysAdrian. “We realized then that as avisually impaired couple we couldachieve independence with a guidedog.”

It’s not always easy for blindpeople to depend on a third, sightedperson to help them. The connectionbetween Adrian and Veronica and Maxwas quickly established and it was lovea first “sight”.

They had to wait until Septemberfor Max to come to Arad. It seemedlike an eternity. They felt honoured tobe trained with Mr. Alan Brooks fromthe UK, as well as Anca Vasile from thecharity.

“After only 10 days we acquiredthe spatial mobility we always longedfor,” says Adrian. “Our love for puppiesalready existed and our desire to learnwas intense.”

Their partnership with Max was thefirst tandem partnership in Romania, ifnot Eastern Europe. Now they could

go by themselves, with Max, to workand back and do trivial things likegoing shopping without dependingon someone else.

“The most significant thing,” says Adrian,“was the idea that as a couple we could takea walk together. ...


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... I don’t have wordsto explain how it felt

to go together as acouple, with Max’shelp, for a romanticwalk or dinner.”

Now, with the help of their intelligentfriend Max, they can go wherever they need

to go.

“Veronica can go and meet her friends,”says Adrian, “and I can go out with the boys.”

They advise any blind person whowants independence to consider getting aguide dog, even though it involves a lot ofresponsibility.

“The guide dog has needs and is a beingwho depends on the blind,” explains Adrian.

“He needs love, petting, play and to be takencare of. He has to be walked regardless of therain, snow and heat and has physiologicalneeds. A healthy and happy dog makes a

happy life for the blind.”

Adrian explains that blind people alsoneed mobility and orientation in order to becompatible with a guide dog and it is alsoimportant to keep up all the skills given bythe guide dog trainer.

“Otherwise the dog may lose some ofthe skills,” says Adrian, “and you will have

achieved nothing.”

Adrian and Veronica feel the governmentshould develop appropriate legislation forpeople with disabilities. The local communityshould comply with the accessibility legislationin public places in order to make the blindperson’s life easier. A well-developed mediacampaign would help educate the public andmake them more aware of the importance ofguide dogs for the blind.


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Cristi Moldovan and Hamish

Cristi was born in Târgu Mureş in 1982.When he was 14 years old he had abicycle accident that left him completelyblind.

“I am not the kind of person that feels sorryfor myself,” explains Cristi, “and I wanted tohave a normal life without burdening thosearound me, so the desire to have a guide dogwas created in me.”

Cristi learned about guide dogs throughreading magazines, but had no idea therewas a foundation in Romania involved in thetraining of guide dogs. He eventually learned

about Light into Europe from a friend andimmediately contacted them.

“After severalinterviews,

some tests and

discussion thatlasted manymonths,” says

Cristi, “I receiveda dear friend

Hamish, who I cancount on day andnight.”

Cristi explains that time is neededto create a strong bond of trustbetween master and guide dog.For him and Hamish it took about

5-6 months, during which time theyhad many interesting experiencestogether.

Cristi and Hamish have beentogether for a year and a half now.They had a month’s training with aninstructor before he could go outalone on the street with the dog.

“I think the hardest and mostimportant thing a blind person needsto acquire with a guide dog is thetrust,” says Cristi. “The guide dog


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feels if you trust him or not and behavesaccordingly.”

Cristi has been married for 10 years andbelieves no one can lead him as well as his

wife can, apart from Hamish.

“Yes, a guide dog can lead you much betterthan a person because he has been trained to

do so,” says Cristi. “For 20 years, until I hadHamish I would not go out anywhere aloneeven in front of my apartment block. Now Ican go out alone everywhere, something

I never dreamed of before.”

Now Cristi simply gets dressed and takeshimself and Hamish to the store, Post Office,bank, pharmacy etc. The quality of his sociallife has improved too.

“I can now socialize with my neighbours,the people on the street, the post office andbank clerks and salespeople at the stores,”

says Cristi. “In conclusion, a guide dog cantransform lives.”


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Cati Zgubea and Klint

Cati is 27 years old and lives in herhometown, Alexandria. She lost her

sight 12 years ago, following various healthproblems. She now comes to Bucharest asoften as she can to visit the Foundation for itsactivities.

“I heard about the organization four yearsago from my sister,” says Cati. She also toldme about the guide dogs program, but I didnot feel ready for it.”

Last year she contacted the foundation totalk about the possibility of having a guide

dog. She has now been with Klint forabout two months effectively.

“I spent two weeks in Bucharestfor us to get used to each other,”

says Cati, “learning what having aguide dog means and how to walkwith him properly. It’s not easy andyou have to adapt to a new way ofworking.”

Having a guide dog enablesCati to be almost completelyindependent.

“I believe that if you work hard,”says Cati, “over time a blind personcan do almost everything an ableperson can.”

Cati now has much moreconfidence in herself when goingout alone in the city, accompaniedby Klint.

“Of course, ablind person with

a guide dog isseen differently,”

she says. “Someare curious and stopto ask how you workwith him, and so on.”

Cati knew she would get all sorts of

reactions from people around her, especiallyliving in a small town.“Most people here do not know what a

guide dog is,” she says.


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It has been important to Cati to have asupportive family who are all animal lovers.

“It should be understood that man and

dog are a team,” she says, “and you cannot just leave the dog alone to work – you have totake care of him if you want to enjoy a gooddog!”

Locally, Cati believes that every timeconstruction and infrastructure changes aremade that consideration should be made forthose with vision problems.

Cati also believes the government shouldfacilitate education for all blind people,regardless of where they are living, as specialblind schools are not available in all cities andit is often difficult for people to relocate.

“I think the government should be moreinvolved with educating children in schoolsabout people with disabilities,” she says.“This would help avoid difficult situations forpeople like me being misunderstood by thecommunity.”


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Magda and Heidi

Magda is from Ploieşti butmoved to Bucharestsome 40 - 50 years ago. Shehas two sisters in Ploieşti and

her son in Bucharest. Her sonis a coach driver and goesaway every Tuesday and

returns each Sunday. Magdalost her sight after the birth ofher son. She moved into herflat 30 years ago, togetherwith her husband who died in2004.

“I heard about theFoundation from a friend in2014,” says Magda. “I’ve

always loved dogs, cats andbirds since I was young. I usedto sit and listen to my birds(Zebra finches) singing all daylong.”

Magda has been withHeidi for a year and a halfnow. She met Heidi in March2014 when she was not yet

trained to be a guide dog.From 23 September thatyear Magda started to comeregularly to the Foundationto learn about the project

with guide dogs and to beginthe effective training, whichlasted two months.

She was first taught how

to use a white cane to crossthe street, but eventuallygave up with the stick.

“They used to have

acoustic traffic lights here,”she says, “but not any more.”


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Now she knows how to cross the first junction near her house by listening to thetramline. When she hears a big noise on herleft, she knows her traffic light is green. Ifshe’s not sure, she doesn’t cross.

“Unfortunately, some people tell me thelight is green when it’s not,” she says. “Peoplewant to test me to see if I’m really attentive.”

She walks fast with Heidi now along thepavements and stops at every kerb to listento the traffic. Some people don’t understand

or believe that Magda is blind because theydon’t see how she can walk so fast with aguide dog.

“Some of the neighbours ask mewhy I don’t use a white stick,” says

Magda, “and how can I trust a guide dog.The reality is I trust Heidi more than I trustother people.”

Now all the neighbours love Heidi. At

first they were a bit afraid as they thought shemight bite. Magda trusts the dog so much andfeels no fear on the streets. Heidi sometimesstops to receive affection and then moves on.

“Heidi and I have lots of friends in thenearby park,” says Magda, “but if Heidimeets a dog she doesn’t like, she puts herhead on my arm and asks to go home. Ican feel everything she wants to say. I have

got used to her every emotion. Heidi lovesrunning free in the enclosed park spaces andeating grass like a goat!”

“Before I got Heidi I tried going outside

with a cane, but I wasn’t happy doing so,”explains Magda. “Going out with Heidi feels

safer – it’s easier to talk to people.”

“It’s true that for 20 years ...

... I lived alone in myapartment block,”

says Magda. “Noneof my neighbours

knew me. Now that I

have Heidi, everyoneknows me.”

Magda would encourage any blind

person who likes dogs to consider gettinga guide dog. Then they can go out withoutother people and be independent. She thinksa lot of people may not want a guide dog

because of the fur – she has to brush Heidiseveral times a day.

“The local community needs to be morefriendly towards blind people and theirdogs,” she says. “They need to tell people

about the program with guide dogs and helpblind people integrate better.”


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Petra Pintelei

Petra is a 22 year old studentliving in Bucharest andstudying at the Lumina Universityof South-East Europe. She is

currently studying for two Bachelordegrees – International Relationsand Applied Modern languages(English-Turkish).

“At first I thought it was a bitlike a game,” says Petra, but nowI realize it is more work than play!”

Petra was born with optical

nerve and retinal nerve damage,with 5% vision, which allows her tosee some light and shadows andslight shapes if she’s not too tired.

“The good thing is I enjoylanguages,” says Petra, “and theuniversity has learned to adapt thecurriculum for me. I can write on atablet and can sit more oral exams

so that I don’t have to write toomuch.”

Lumina University was foundedin 2010 and is keen to acceptmore students with disabilities. Itundergoes regular inspections bythe Ministry of Education.

Petra is currently writing her thesis on

Military Psychological Operations and HybridWarfare. She is doing research into MilitaryScience, including intelligence and security.

“War is not what we imagine,” saysPetra, “it is not just weaponry. By knowingthe war you know peace. Peace and war aresubsequent.”

For a person with disabilities, Petra likes a

challenge, to discover the unexpected in herfield research.

“Women are also war machines,” she

says, “making weapons and clothing andartillery. There are more women than men inarmies though they get less recognition.”

Petra has known Capt. Stan Platt sinceshe was 10 years old, when he came to herschool in 2004. There are currently six blindschools nationwide and one in Bucharest.

“Stan and Camelia came to my schoolto look for projects and opportunities,” says

Petra. “They brought tiny little gifts fromEngland – hair bands for the girls and sweetsand things for the boys.”


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One of Petra’s most thrilling memories ofchildhood was when she and members of herclass were taken to England for a fund-raisingactivity for a hospice near Carlisle.

“We were 40-50 little goblins all singingchildhood English and Romanian songs!”says Petra. “I remember this as the trip of mylife – my first flight abroad. It was magical – anew place!”

During the trip the children enjoyed lots ofentertainment, visiting places, and concerts.All the children and staff were accommodated

in family houses and taken around by car.

“We were little children fund-raising in theEden Valley in England,” says Petra. “It wasso exciting, like a dream. I was consciouslyaware we were abroad. A great experiencewith our new passports!”

Petra has always enjoyed reading Englishchildren’s literature, such as Harry Potter,Secret Seven, Famous Five, as well as audiobooks such as Horrible Histories, HorribleScience etc.

A few years later Petra met with Mrs.Gail Stewardson from the European GuideDog Federation and Mr. Alan Brooks. Theyproposed Petra gave an historical speech inBrussels calling for the rights of people likeherself to travel freely in Europe with a guidedog. The result was Petra’s Law.

“Like you, I want to get on a bus, or aplane or a train – and travel from Sloveniato Spain,” said Petra during her speech.“Or even Bruges to Birmingham. OrAmsterdam to Zagreb. Without hindrance,knowing that I’ll get the same treatmentwherever I go.”

In 2009 Petra sang on ProTV’s talent show

and won. Her prize turned out to be a sixweek old “guide dog” puppy. This puppywas Chloe, and although Petra was not yetready for a guide dog, Capt. Stan took the

puppy on and trained her, with help, to bethe first working guide dog in Romania.

Petra now travels around Bucharest withher white cane along the streets and in the

metro.

“Most blind people are inclined to havegood orientation and learn easily,” saysPetra. “Sighted people don’t realize you canorientate other than with sight. Some believeyou are faking it.”

Petra recently visited London, whichshe loved. She has become quite a British-

maniac, inspired by Stan and all his team.

“Stan is a great story-teller,” she says.“He has introduced some of the old Britishmagic from his heart.”

Of all the British bands, Petra loves IronMaiden the most. She has seen them twice inBucharest.

“They are coming here again,” she says.“They are so British. I love their flag, theirlyrics!”

Petra’s big wish is for children inmainstream schools to be better educatedto understand and accept people withdisabilities and to end the bullying in schools.

“Accessibility forthe disabled shouldbe increased,” she

says, “and we needto raise awareness of

disability rights.”


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Lăcrămioara Pintelei (Mrs. Lili)

“L

ăcrămioara, otherwise known asMrs. Lili, or simply ‘Petra’s Mum’ is an

institution,” says her daughter Petra.

She started working with Capt. Stan Plattand his team in 2004 and initially focussed onworking with the deaf people.

“It just happened,”says Lăcrămioara,“we started todevelop thesecreative programs fordeaf children.”

Before Petra was born, Lăcrămioara

was a secretary in a factory. Now she isProject Manager of all the arts and craftsprojects, an occupational therapist and runsthe accounting. She works with many deaf

colleagues and can use sign language tocommunicate.

“It is a full time job that comes naturally

to me,” she says, “I use my common senseand come up with lots of creative ideas.A child is a child and children need to havetheir freedom.”

Lăcrămioara explains how recentdevelopments in technology gives childrenwith disabilities access to huge amountsof information and allows them to expressthemselves in novel ways.

“Sign language is a visual form ofcommunication,” says Lăcrămioara, “whereasusing a tablet or Smartphone allows peopleto express themselves more freely.”

Lăcrămioara explains how the colours ona smartphone can be inverted, and contrastand zoom can help. Video messages can besent and text can be vocalized. This makes


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communication much easier for those whocan’t read or speak.

“Although PECS (Picture ExchangeCommincation System) was initially developed

for autistic children,” says Lacramioara, “weare able to adapt it for use with deaf andblind children.”

Lăcrămioara gets many of her ideas forher arts and crafts projects from magazines,the Internet and from donated items. Shetries to make use of the children’s capacityand is always meeting new faces, both at theCentre (35 Str. Clăbucet) and at the deaf andmainstream schools.

“Most of the time I go to the childrenin their schools,” she says, “but especiallyduring the summer holidays we tend to havemore activities at the Centre.”

Lăcrămioara currently has three projectson the go, one of which is a sewing machinecourse each Friday.

“The children have to learn to measure,cut, and sew,” says Lăcrămioara, “It involvesfiddly fine motor skills. But the kids are soproud of themselves when they learn tothread the machine!”


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Anca Vasile, Guide Dog Programme Manager

Anca was born inCraiova and movedto Bucharest when shewas just five years old.

She is now 31 and lovesliving in Bucharest.

Anca graduated witha degree in Economicsof the Environment anda masters in BusinessCommunication. Aftera spell working forRaffeisen Bank sheheard about Light IntoEurope.

“I did a lot ofvolunteering during my university studiesand I always wanted to work in an NGO,”says Anca. “I applied to work as a volunteerfor Light Into Europe and shortly becamePersonal Assistant to Mr. Stan.”

After a couple of months she was asked

to consider being trained as a Guide DogTrainer at Guide Dogs UK.

“This was a turning point in my life,” saysAnca. “I went to Liverpool in the UK andstarted a six month training course to becomean Instructor at the Guide Dogs MobilityCentre. This was a chance for me to make adifference!”

This took place three years ago; one yearafter Anca had joined Light Into Europe.

“When I came back from the UK I was aGuide Dog Instructor in Training,” says Anca,“and then I began to coordinate the entireprogram.”

Anca is now the Guide Dog ProgrammeManager, which includes coordination andtraining of the volunteers who look after

the dogs, assessment and testing of blindpeople, educational activities with the publicor sponsors, and generally taking part in thestrategies of the charity.

“I have to coordinate all the 30 dogs ofthe charity, including health care,” says Anca.“I also work with the dogs in basic trainingand then in advanced training with the blindperson. There are only two of us and it is hardto spend enough time with each dog!”

Although Anca has never been involvedwith dogs before, she has always lovedanimals and working with people.

“I began to understand the impact ofa guide dog on a blind person’s life,” saysAnca. “In fact, the dogs I work with havereally changed my life and not only those ofthe beneficiaries!”

As well as her training in Liverpool, Anca

has attended many conferences and receivedplenty of advice from the charity’s seniorguide dog consultant, Mr. Alan Brooks.

“In Liverpool I learnt all about theprinciples of working with dogs, includingunderstanding their body language andbehaviour,” says Anca, “and using theseaspects to train them as guide dogs.”

Generally a puppy spends 15 months

with a puppy raiser before beginning formaltraining. During this time he learns the basiccommands and all the guide dog rules thatmust be respected.


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“When the formal training begins,” saysAnca, “the guide dog has to come to thecentre to learn the basic skills for a guidedog: sitting at the kerb, working in harness,

avoiding obstacles, etc.”

This takes four months or longer and thenthe dog is evaluated and a suitable blindperson found depending on his personalityand technical characteristics (speed,motivation, working types and times).

“The training with the blind personnormally takes three to six weeks,” says Anca,“depending on the blind person’s orientation

and mobility and how long it takes to establisha real bond.”

After a working life of six - seven years,the guide dog is then retired as a pet. Theblind person can decide to keep the dog, oranother family can be found. The dog belongsto the charity throughout its working life andis provided at no cost to the beneficiary,including food and vet bills.

The biggest challengewhen training guide dogs isfamiliarizing them with new

environments when theyare told guide dogs are not

allowed access.

“Blind people have a social lives, like us,”says Anca, “and to be able to go in publicspaces they need fully socialized dogs!”

Anca also needs people not to distractthe dogs while they are working.

Some of the dogs are assessed andnot found suitable to be guide dogs. Oneexample of this was Aries.

“He was dominant, pulled a lot, barkedand was unsociable with other dogs,” saysAnca. “He was withdrawn from the guide

dog training programme and made into anamazing assistance dog for epilepsy!”

Anca advises those who might consider

getting a guide dog that they should dare todream about freedom and independence.“A guide dog can give you this chance!”

she says, “As long as you love and look afterhim he will do the same for you!”

A blind person with a guide dog needsto be brave. They need to trust the dog andno longer rely on a person. They also need tobe willing to work hard looking after the dogand to face challenges and responsibilities as

a team.

“You will have to be strong and fightfor your rights together with the dog,” saysAnca. “Fight for your rights to be integratedin society, to change perceptions and ideasas to how society treats you and work hard forfull independence.”

Anca believes the charity needs its own

Guide Dogs Centre to move forward. Shewants to see more guide dog – beneficiarypartnerships, and for this more activevolunteers are needed, as well as new teammembers and sponsorships.

“The community needs to understandthe street is used by many different people,including blind people and guide dogs,” saysAnca. “We need free access in public spacesfor guide dogs only, and severe punishment

for those drivers who block pavements byparking badly.”

Anca also suggests the local communityshould be more active in fund-raising to getmore buy-in to the project.

“I believe the local community has amoral responsibility to help and support thoseliving with disabilities,” she says. “We needto educate children and students, starting in

elementary school to understand they canmake a difference in the world. Being blindor deaf is not a reason not to have a normallife!”


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Severian Pavel, Guide Dog Instructor

Severian Pavel, or Seve, is 27 years oldand comes from Buzău. He moved toBucharest 3 years ago and married his wifeAndreea in September 2015.

“I first heard about Light Into Europe frommy wife who was working as a social worker atthe charity,” says Seve. “She was linking withthe blind and deaf beneficiaries and well assupporting the schools.”

Seve applied for a job as a PersonalAssistant supporting Mr. Stan Platt.

“From the moment I started working atthe charity,” says Seve, “I knew I wantedto be a guide dog instructor.”

Seve has always liked dogs andrealized he could make a real differencesupporting blind people in Romaniathrough this work. He has now workedfor 3 years as a guide dog instructor. Thismainly involves daily exercises with thedogs, raising awareness through guide

dog workshops, and supporting thepuppy raisers (the volunteers who bringthe puppies home with them when theyare not in training).

“We are a small charity,” says Seve,“and I have lots of other jobs to do, suchas photography, IT technician and evendriver for both staff and dogs!”

Seve’s first experience with dogs wasat the age of five when his family got aGerman Shepherd as a pet/guard dog.More recently, he has trained himself as aGuide Dog Instructor.

“I have not actually gone through anyformal training, but have learnt throughexperience, talking with colleagues andother professionals, as well as watchingvideos online!”

Mr. Alan Brooks, who is one of thetop guide dog professionals in the world,has always supported Light Into Europe.

“Mr. Alan supports our work as guidedog instructors by checking and verifyingthe training we have given the dogs,” saysSeve, “as well as teaching and refreshing

our professional development with newtechniques. He also assesses the guidedog – beneficiary partnerships we haveestablished.”

A puppy normally spends a year to 15months with a puppy walker before they startformal training. This depends on the characterof the dog and the level of obedience it hasobtained with the puppy raiser.

“At the moment we are only two dog


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trainers.” says Seve. “Normally, the dogs arefully trained by the age of two years.”

This advanced, formal training lasts

around six months and involves trafficawareness, obstacles, avoiding distractions(including humans, other dogs and food), aswell as working in harness.

“The most important thing is that the dogis happy doing his job,” says Seve, “we don’twant him to have any negative associationswith the work!”

When a dog has finished his advancedtraining, at around two years old, the guidedog – beneficiary partnership training begins.This can take from two to six weeks. The list ofbeneficiaries is checked to see who might bepaired with a dog.

“We need to check the speed of the dog,it’s size and what the blind person needs thedog to do,” says Seve. “Some people spenda lot of time in offices, whilst others wish todo more walking.”

The pairing steps include one week ofbonding between the blind person and thedog.

“Spending time together groomingand feeding the dog,” says Seve, “helpsto generate an inseparable bond that willdevelop over many years.”

The beneficiary learns what having a guidedog entails and how it should be effectivelyused. The training then moves to the blindperson’s residential area where together theylearn at least three everyday routes.

“These routes are where the guide dogcan guide the blind person,” says Seve, “suchas from home to the supermarket, to the parkor to visit family.”

A guide dogpartnership normally

lasts from fiveto seven years,depending on thehealth and characterof the dog.

“The local community don’t knowmuch about guide dogs and are afraid ofbeing bitten,” says Seve. “They struggleto differentiate them from regular pets andstreet dogs.”

Bucharest is still home to plenty of streetdogs and the pavements are often in poorshape, which makes working with guide dogsdifficult.

Any dog suffering from dysplasia ordisplaying unfavourable characteristics suchas barking, being greatly distracted by otherdogs or cats is assessed. Some of these traitscan be dealt with and others not.

“A dog deemed unsuitable to be a guidedog can become a therapy dog for personswith autism or epilepsy,” says Seve.

A guide dog can offer new independence,enable a blind person to make new friends,help them visit new places and be a constantcompanion.

“The biggest need,” says Seve, “is toimprove infrastructure such as pavements andcrossings, remove street dogs (by rehoming)and by teaching people to be more aware andaccepting of blind people. The governmentshould do more to acknowledge the needs ofthe guide dogs and blind people.”


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Mr. Alan Brooks, Senior Guide Dog Consultant

Mr. Alan Brooks is originallyfrom Manchester, andafter a lifetime of living invarious places in the UK,

coupled with travellingfrequently overseas throughhis work, he currently lives inDartmoor, Devon, with hiswife and daughter.

“I started dog trainingwith my pet dog whilst still aschoolboy,” says Alan, “andtook part in dog obediencecompetitions in the ‘60s.”

Alan left school and gota job with The Guide Dogsfor the Blind Association (GBDA) in 1967.Which means he’s been working with guidedogs for almost 49 years.

Alan came across Light into Europe whenhe was Head of International Affairs at GDBA.He was asked to assess Chloe (the puppyPetra won in the ProTV talent show) to see ifshe was suitable as a guide dog.

“Since then, I have been involved withLight into Europe intermittently,” says, Alan,“as an advisor, staff trainer and the instructortraining the first Tandem GD partnership inRomania.”

He has also assessed dogs, clients andmade presentations at various venues.

Guide dogs differ from other workingdogs in that they sometimes have to maketheir own judgement.

“Normally the handler takes the initiativeto offer commands to the dog,” says Alan.“However, in the case of the guide dog,sometimes the command “forward” will beignored if there is an obstacle which needs tobe negotiated. Once around the obstacle thedog will then return to the forward direction.”

The breeding of guide dogs has to becarefully considered. Health and temperamentare affected by genetics and to some extent,behaviour also.

“The earlier in life thepuppy experiences today’sbusy, chaotic environment,the better,” says Alan.

“Good experience as apuppy will benefit thedog when it arrives forprofessional training atmaturity (12 to 16 months)”.

Matching a guide dogto a blind person involvesseveral factors, includingthe person’s individualability.

“The dogs which do notbecome guide dogs can

often have quite fulfilling lives,” says Alan.“They can work as Assistance Dogs, Search& Rescue or even just companion dogs forelderly people or some disabled children.”

One of the biggest challenges for guidedog users in countries who are just startingto see guide dog use is access to public

premises.“Campaigning for guide dog users to

have access accompanied by their dogs is anongoing challenge,” says Alan. “Only whenaccess is afforded in law can blind people withguide dogs be completely independent.”

Light into Europe is aiming to becomea full member of IGDF (International GuideDog Federation) in the near future. It will beeligible to do so once 10 partnerships are inplace.

“Full membership will give them accessto more knowledge and information fromIGDF,” says Alan. “They will also be ableto use the IGDF logo in their promotionalmaterial and will be working to internationalaccredited standards.”

Alan believes the government needs topass access laws for guide dog users and thenhave these laws enforced by the regulatingauthorities.


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Mr. Sean Dilley is apolitical journalistcurrently working for SkyNews. He is also a Board

Member of Light IntoEurope.

Sean was born in theCity of Westminster in1982 and subsequentlymoved around Londonand as far afield asHertfordshire and SouthWales.

When Sean was14 months old, hisgrandmother’s familydoctor in Cardiff noticedthat he had congenitalnystagmous (rapidinvoluntary movementsof the eyes), caused by problems with thevisual pathway to the brain.

“As I grew up, doctors were better ableto see that I had a number of conditions,”says Sean, “many with complicated names– but also extremely high myopia (short-sightedness). Growing up in school I wasn’table to see the blackboard even when I wasonly a few feet away from it.”

Sean could not read his own writing andhad support workers with him in any class

requiring visual acuity.

“Growing up, I had an extremely limitedfield of vision,” says Sean. “I could only seea small area in front of my right eye – thoughsometimes I could see outlines. For instance,I could see a car around 15 feet in front of me,but I couldn’t tell you the make or accuratecolour.”

During a six month period what little usefulsight Sean had began to rapidly deteriorate.This left him with no light perception in hisleft eye and no useable sight in his right.

“Almost overnightI had to learn Brailleand adapt to newcircumstances,” says

Sean. “This was no doubtaided by my former closeup sight and a good ideaof my surroundings.”

Sean started to trainwith his first guide dogBrandy in August 1999.They were together for 7years and 3 months.

“We worked side byside in a partnership,”says Sean, “that I canonly describe as lifechanging.”

Brandy retired inNovember 2006 and Sean began trainingwith Chipp.

“Chipp was a solid worker with a realsense of life,” says Sean, “and, according to afriend of mine, a sense of humour. He alwaysknew how to have a joke and a laugh!”

Sean is now currently working with histhird guide dog, Sammy, since June 2014.

“He is undoubtedly the naughtiest ofmy dogs when he’s not working,” says Sean,

“but a real character. He has a brain the sizeof a planet and he knows how to press theright buttons to get what he wants. When theharness comes out, he’s ready to face anotherday, whatever that brings.”

Sean began working in 2000 for Talk Radio(formerly TalkSport) for the BBC, researchingfor shows and answering questions. By 2006he had been producing shows for some

time. He was promoted to Senior Producerfor Current Affairs and subsequently CurrentAffairs Editor overseeing all the non-sportcontent on a mainly sports station.


Mr. Sean Dilley, Board Member, Light Into Europe


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“By 2007, I joined the Parliamentary PressLobby in Westminster with Guide Dog Chippat my side,” says Sean, “We navigated thehalls of power, quickly making friends and

enemies on all sides of the house. It’s a good job MPs are no longer permitted to carryswords!”

In 2009, Sean diversified into writing theoccasional print article and reviewing papersfor BBC News and Sky News. He becamegeneral reporter for Sky News in 2014.

“My first involvement with Light Into

Europe was about six years ago,” says Sean.“I had been asked to make an “authortedpiece” about guide dog access. The Editorof BBC2s Daily Politics Show had witnessedsome of the difficulties I was experiencing.”

A few weeks afterwards, Sean met GailStewartson (from European Guide DogFederation and Guide Dogs UK) when he wasa speaker at a UK Guide Dogs Transport andMobility Conference. It was through her that

he came across Light Into Europe in Romaniawhen he was asked to speak on the subjectof communication at the Metropol Hotel inBucharest.

“At the time of my first visit to Romania,”says Sean, “I was entirely shocked andsurprised by the attitudes of society towardsdisability and blindness – and I was particularlyshocked to have met a brick wall attitude from

some ‘professionals’ who are supposed to besupporting young blind children.”

It seemed that too few Romanians expectblind children to go on and live as ‘normal’members of society.

“I was bitten by the bug,” says Sean, “andwas only too delighted to accept an invitationfrom Capt. Platt a year or so later to join theboard of advisors and to support Light Into

Europe as a Trustee.”

Sean is also a representative on theEuropean Guide Dog Federation Board and is

a regular event goer, speaker and occasionalauctioneer.

“At work, I am very much one of the

reporters,” says Sean. “One of the team,one of the colleagues who goes to work, ispassionate about news and those occasionswhere we can actually change things for thebetter.”

Sean feels everyone who is part of theLight Into Europe team brings a different lifeexperience and skillset.

“I hope what I bring to the organizationis a very real world experience,” says Sean,“having been a guide dog owner for 17 yearsfrom a young age and in a number of verybusy work places. Despite my experience ofdifferent cultures I cannot possibly know howhard it is to be brought up in a society thatneeds to care more.”

Sean is aware that it is critical for Light IntoEurope to continue to work towards a position

of recognition in Romania and abroad.

“The charity has worked very hard overthe years to support a great number ofindividuals,” says Sean, “but it is so veryimportant that more Romanians becomeinvolved in the day-to-day operations of thecharity and its aims.”

Guide dogs provide very real life

improving experiences for their owners.

“It’s all too easy to see Sean and his guidedog Sammy,” says Sean, “rather than Seanand Sammy working together. The publicneeds to understand that guide dogs andtheir owners work in partnership together.”

Guide dogs provide the blind or severelysight-impaired person a lifeline no reliance onone person or group of people ever could.

“A guide dog is about an individual livinglife in a way,” says Sean, “that they simplewould not be able to without.”


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Volunteers, volunteers, volunteers…we are always looking for more volunteers!

Please [email protected] or [email protected]

if you would like to offer your support.


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Foundation Financials

Light Into Europe: Sources of Revenue

As a British and Romanian charity, Light Into Europe is committed to reporting its financialmanagement in as clear a way as possible. This enables us to build trust and integrity with our

donors, supporters and stakeholders. We need to build on what we have achieved to date andmaintain income and grow income sources from fund-raising events and sponsorship in thefuture.

EUR 130, 398 income for year ending Feb 2016

In addition to receiving financial support, Light Into Europe has received non-financialdonations from sponsors such as guide dog food from Royal Canin, courier services from DPD.


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Light into Europe: Analysis of Expenditure

Our current expenditure is likely to grow over the next few years as we further develop ourGuide Dog program, establish greater opportunities in training and education, develop new

fund-raising initiatives and showcase what we have achieved. The charity aims to acquire a newbuilding in 2016, which will provide proper training facilities for the guide dogs as well as beingable to accommodate all the numerous other activities of the charity that benefit the sight andhearing impaired.

EUR 122, 676 expenditure for year ending Feb 2016


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Thank you to our sponsors:

Roberto Musneci &Maria-Laura Ciampoli

Oliver Meister Christine McNamaraDave Jordan

Steven & Valeria Van Groningen Jim & Eileen StewartMr & Mrs Pogonaru

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Light Into Europe Foundation Report 2015

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