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November 2008
Healthy animals are cool
In 2006 a member society in Brazil, Focinhos Gelados (Cold Snouts), signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Secretary of Education of São Paulo State, to establish the educational programme “Healthy animals are cool.” The programme aims at teaching primary school children about responsible pet ownership, welfare of working horses, and animals in entertainment. To date, this programme has reached 387 facilitators and 170,000 children through its workshops.
Patumwan University Demonstration School
On the 10th of November students at Patumwan University Demonstration School were treated to surprise teacher. A lucky class of grade seven students received their science lesson from Thai Channel 3 star Por Tissadee.
Por is championing the IN AWE (International Animal Welfare Education) programme in Bangkok through holding demonstration classes in local schools. The lessons aim to show students and teachers alike that animal welfare can be successfully incorporated into school curricula. Through his work with WSPA and the IN AWE programme Por is becoming an accomplished teacher!
In order to further promote the IN AWE programme the lesson was filmed by two television channels and will be included in upcoming shows.
The IN AWE programme is going from strength to strength in Bangkok having gained support from the local education authority,the Office of Basic Education Commission and UNESCO. This success means WSPA will extend the programme to a further two provinces next year.
Students carrying out the activity based on the WSPA “Bears of the World” information pack.
October 2008
Emmerdale star helps out with World Animal Week
World Animal Week kicked off on 4th October, and Vet surgeries all over the UK supported WSPA with special events during World Animal Week (4th to 10th October). Staff at the Manchester Veterinary Clinic invited pupils from a local primary school to take part in a children’s drawing competition and the winner, Aidan, 8, and two runners up Joshua and Connor, both aged 4, were presented with a certificate and prizes by Dominic Brunt at the surgery.
Dominic Brunt plays vet Paddy Kirk in ITV 1 soap Emmerdale.
Money raised from this year’s World Animal Week will be used to fund mobile veterinary clinics in a number of countries that cannot afford any aid for their stray animals themselves.
The children and their siblings are obvious animal lovers, and they enjoyed taking part in this contest to draw their ideal pets. By organising such events, we can encourage stewardship towards animals and pass on information about responsible pet ownership and animal care to children.
World Society for the Protection af Animals (WSPA) drawing competition with Dominic Brunt and winning children
TV Star Por Tissadee Sahawong, WSPA Asia Ambassador, Stands Up for a World Where Animals Matter
Since last year WSPA has received the generous support of Thai TV3 star Por Tissadee Sahawong. In his role as WSPA Asia Ambassador, he helps to promote WSPA’s vision of a world where animal welfare matters and animal cruelty ends.
Recently, Por Tissadee joined WSPA education activities at Satit Mor Sor Vor Prasanmitr School and also visited WSPA member society, SCAD. At the school Por Tissadee proved himself to be a great teacher and the students thoroughly enjoyed and paid enthusiastic attention towards the topic of ‘Your Pets’. During the lesson the young participants learnt about the basic needs of animals and the responsibility of being a pet owner.
Por Tissadee’s passion for animal welfare is clear; he continued to say “Every time when I join with WSPA, I’m always happy because I can give a voice to animals who cannot speak for themselves. I started supporting WSPA through promoting the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW) which aims to achieve international recognition for animal welfare and today I’m proud to be part of the new education programme. I hope that through activities like this children will have greater compassion for animals and wont’ commit acts of cruelty towards them”.
September 2008
First Teacher Training in Bangkok a Success
On Saturday 6th September, WSPA held its first teacher training workshop in Bangkok. The event was attended by 44 teachers representing 18 schools from around the city. The workshop was held to provide International Animal Welfare Education (IN AWE) training to both primary and secondary school teachers.
Teacher training workshops are a vital and integral part of IN AWE. During workshops teachers have the opportunity to learn about Animal Welfare Education and its importance and benefits, receive resources and materials and discuss how aspects of Animal Welfare Education can be integrated into their lessons.
After the success of this inaugural workshop WSPA will run further introductory sessions later this year, as well as provide follow-up training and support for the participants of this event. Other IN AWE events planned this year in Thailand include training for pre-service teachers and demonstration classes. In the upcoming year IN AWE workshops will also take place in India and Vietnam.
Animal welfare story book launched in Tanzania
The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) has supported the translation of an educational story anthology, first published in 2006 as The Unlikely Burden, into Swahili.
Already used successfully in Kenyan classrooms (see story below), this translation – entitled Mzigo Usiyoyamkinika – aims to reach a greater number of children throughout East and some parts of Central Africa.
The appearance of high-profile guests at Mzigo Usiyoyamkinika’s Tanzanian launch – which was organised by WSPA’s Africa office – generated national press and television news coverage, helping increase awareness about animal welfare education opportunities within the country.
The Hon Mrs Salma Kikwete, Tanzania’s first lady and an advocate of child education initiatives, led the event. She was joined by ministers, vets and the local director of the Jane Goodall Foundation (which works closely with WSPA in Tanzania) to welcome young readers to the book launch and talk to them about animal welfare and conservation.
Over 200 schoolchildren attended the launch, led by a brass band and carrying banners with animal welfare messages. They then took part in the day’s activities: performing in skits on the importance of wild animals and a play discouraging poaching, drawing animals, and reading excerpts from the book.
In her speech, the first lady focused on what this accessible educational resource can achieve. She said: “There is a very thin line between animal cruelty and cruelty to other human beings”, and added that the anthology will not only be beneficial to the children but to the community as a whole. She then signed copies for the children.
WSPA donated 150 copies of Mzigo Usiyoyamkinika to the office of the first lady for distribution.
More information and images from the launch >>
August 2008
A Braver New World for children
Bravely conquering the cold and damp Nairobi weather, and making their way to the lush green gardens of the Lower Kabete Junior Academy, over 40 school children, joined by their parents, teachers, writers and volunteers, spent a colourful and inspiring afternoon combining work and play.
The kiswahili translation of ‘The Unlikely Burden‘, sponsored by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) was launched by award winning author Stanley Gazemba, reading the title story of the book written by him. The launch was an opportunity for children, parents and teachers alike to remember the importance of animal welfare in their daily lives.
July 2008
WSPA education programme gets high-level recognition
An influential global body has officially endorsed WSPA’s International Animal Welfare Education (IN AWE) programme.
The International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organisations (IAHAIO), founded in 1990, is a global umbrella organisation officially recognised as a working partner-NGO of the World Health Organization in the area of human-animal relations. It gathers together national associations and related organisations interested in advancing the understanding and appreciation of the link between animals and humans.
At their annual meeting in July, the IAHAIO Board endorsed the IN AWE programme. Dr Dennis Turner, IAHAIO President, said:
“The IN AWE programme of WSPA is one of a kind and has been sorely missed in the educational materials available to date. The materials are well-designed, easy to use and therefore potentially, very effective. Our member organizations are doing their part by making the programme better known within their respective countries.”
The IAHAIO declarations, which can be found on their home page: www.iahaio.org, especially the ‘Rio Declaration on Pets in Schools,’ recognise the importance of animal welfare education in formal school curricula to promote feelings of respect for, and knowledge about other living creatures. All of their declarations about the keeping of pets or their involvement in animal-assisted therapy programs require housing of the animals to meet high welfare standards and safeguards to prevent harm to (including stress), or misuse of the animals.
“IAHAIO's conferences have always welcomed abstract submissions on children and the human-animal bond, e.g. about studies demonstrating the relationship between the development of empathy towards people and animals.”
“We look forward to working together with WSPA on other projects in the future since our joint efforts with WSPA and WHO to produce the educational materials Caring for Cats and Dogs were very rewarding to all parties involved and beneficial to both animals and school children” said Dr Turner who is also a member of WSPA’s governing body.
June 2008
New animal education website launched in Brazil: School is Cool!
In collaboration with educators from the School of Nature in Brasilia, Brazil, and the Ministry of Environment, WSPA launched a new Portuguese website: www.escolaeobicho.com.br/ (School is Cool).
This website will be a meeting point for all teachers working on animal welfare education in Brazil, particularly those involved in WSPA programmes in Brasília and in the Lower Amazon. Information on animal welfare education, educational resources, news etc. are featured on this site. There is a link to the WSPA-Brazil website.
Spanish speaking teachers may also use this website as it is easier to read than speak Portuguese.
Background
In 2007 the WSPA International Animal Welfare Education (IN AWE) programme was expanded from the Amazon region to Brasilia, the capital of Brazil. In October 2007 a work agreement was signed between WSPA and the Escola da Natureza – EN (School of Nature) - introducing WSPA into the Federal District Secretariat of the Education programme "Parceiros da Escola" (Schools' Partners).
This was a major step which not only expanded the IN AWE programme both in terms of geographic area and number of teachers and education secretaries involved but also brought this programme closer to the attention of the Ministry of Education, which is seated in Brasilia.
On 28th June WSPA Brazil Development Manager, Elizabeth MacGregor, participated in the closing ceremony of the first Animal Welfare Education course “Respect for all Forms of Life – School is Cool”, coordinated by Cristina Torres, and supported by Dr. Ana Nira and Marcia Zizzi, WSPA representative staff in Brasilia.
Speeches and songs were composed for ‘School is Cool’ and animal welfare education materials and methods were presented by teachers who had participated in the course. At the end of the ceremony teachers received copies of the WSPA CD ROM “Caring for Care for Cats and Dogs” and PETA’s Portuguese dubbed DVD “Sharing the World”.
It is hoped that the new website www.escolaeobicho.com.br/ will introduce concepts of animal welfare to a greater number of teachers, and that it will empower them to integrate messages of kindness, respect and compassion for animals in their lessons.
May 2008
Costa Rican education committed to animal welfare
Costa Rican Minister of Education, Dr. Leonardo Garnier, signed an agreement with the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), which will help to educate teachers about topics such as respect for animal life and a responsible and compassionate relationship between children and animals.
The main objective of the agreement is to promote the development of children’s sensitivity towards living beings, and also a citizen’s responsibility feeling that will promote harmony between people, animals and nature. The idea is to favour values of respect, goodness, and solidarity towards animals, which contributes as well to build more positive relationships within human societies.
This is a cooperation agreement aimed to continue with the development of a WSPA educative programme called “Respect to all forms of life”, which currently is frame worked within the Government’s initiative “Peace with Nature”, promoted by the National President Mr. Oscar Arias.
The programme will be funded and developed by WSPA in coordination with the Ministry of Education of Costa Rica. Part of the planned activities will be launching a pilot project to train teachers about strategies and techniques to embed animal welfare issues and humane values within the school curricula.
Dr. Garnier said that this agreement will help to create a more harmonious relationship between students and all kind of living beings, between people and nature.
Carlos Chacón, WSPA’s Education Manager in the region, said that this agreement aims to integrate animal welfare into the school context and support educators in their formative work. This is why the programme will use diverse educational resources, and foster learning processes and collaboration among teachers in order to promote the whole project, and reach an increasing number of teachers and students.
First “Animal Club” e-Bulletin of 2008 Released
Animal Club™ is an education initiative of Voiceless Limited, based in Australia. The 3rd issue of the Animal Club e-bulletin is now available online. This e-bulletin is filled with animal activity ideas and news, plus worksheets to be downloaded and used in the classroom.
Find out more (link to: http://www.animalclub.org.au/images/stories/ebulletin/issue3.pdf)
April 2008
Humane High School Teaches Students to Make Their Voices Heard for Animals
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has launched Humane High School, a new online service learning program for middle- and high-school students. Offerings include free courses, educational videos, study/activity guides, service learning ideas, and career advice.
Service-learning is a teaching strategy that combines meaningful community service with instruction and adult-guided reflection. Humane High School is a valuable resource for teens looking to meet these academic requirements while helping animals.
"Humane High School connects academic instruction to a student's real life experiences," said Stephanie Clark, Humane High School principal and manager of outreach and training for Humane Society Youth, The HSUS's youth education division. "It asks students to think critically about issues affecting animals and provides action steps to reinforce learning, such as writing a letter to an elected official. All the while, students are combating cruelty in their communities, and learning valuable skills that can be used in internships and in the workforce."
The first Humane High School course, "Using the Legislative Process to Speak Up for Animals," teaches students how government works, how to research issues and develop a message, and how to communicate with elected officials. Courses are instructor-led and free to students. Students must receive an 80 percent or higher grade on assignments and exams to pass the course. Students may enroll in courses and download other Humane High School resources at humanesociety.org/teens.
Humane High School complements a range of HSUS programs for students and educators, including the Mission: Humane advocacy program for K-12 students, the KIND News newspaper distributed to 35,000 elementary school classrooms nationwide, and the Certified Humane Education Specialist training program. Learn more at humanesociety.org/youth or call 860-434-8666.
Humane Society Youth is a division of The Humane Society of the United States, the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web at www.humanesociety.org.
Bangkok Students Celebrate Earth Week
On 25th April the International School of Bangkok held the "Earth Fair", aimed at raising students’ awareness of global issues and attended by 1900 school pupils, 2000 people altogether. WSPA Asia education staff were in attendance, running a booth with the Thai Society for Conservation of Wild Animals (a WSPA member society). The most popular attraction was a ‘sound cave’, developed by the Thai Society for Conservation of Wild Animals. On entering the cave, children listened to wild animal noises then were asked to identify which animal species’ were heard.
March 2008
'Respect for all forms of life’ conference, Santiago, Chile
On 27th March, around 300 participants, including veterinary students and education students, lecturers, Ministry of Education, CONAMA (environmental agency) and the Universidade de las Americas gathered for the ‘Respect for all forms of life’ or ‘Respeto a toda forma de vida’ conference in Santiago, Chile.
Carlos Chacón from the WSPA Costa Rica office represented the Education team. Meetings with Universidade de las Americas were very positive and WSPA are now to conduct a curriculum analysis to find out where animal welfare education can be integrated in the Initial Teacher Training course to then run a pilot.
Additionally, a MOU with the Chilean Ministry of Education and with CONAMA has now been sent to WSPA Costa Rica office for signing. This was a very successful outcome to the conference.
Education meets celebration in Costa Rica
Students in San José received educational materials on animal welfare as they celebrated the Costa Rican government’s support for the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW).
The event, which took place in the main public square of the capital on March 5 2008, was attended by more than 100 children and many teachers and parents.
Demonstrating government support for UDAW, the Minister of Education, Dr. Leonardo Garnier, collected petition signatures from the audience and participated in a video testimonial supporting animal welfare.
Dynamic learning
The Costa Rican government considers humane education to be an essential part of its ongoing “Peace for Nature” initiative, and provided activities at the event to engage the children with the animal welfare message.
A play looked at issues facing wildlife animals in captivity and the importance of being a responsible guardian for companion animals, and one school performed songs about local wildlife and good citizenship in relation to animal welfare.
The children expressed great concern about the welfare of animals and their interest in learning more.
Diego, 10 years old, said “animals are living beings as we are, they can feel and know when they are loved or not”. Daniela, 11 years old, believes a UDAW would “help prevent cruelty against animals and reduce their suffering.”
Ongoing education
Primary school children who attended the event will be completing assignments and using their new educational materials in the classroom, focusing on “why animals matter to me” and their understanding of the UDAW.
Secondary-level students at the event expressed their interest in developing animal welfare activities in their schools and volunteering for community work to improve the lives of animals.
Costa Rica has a long history of providing animal welfare education, which WSPA has developed for use across the Latin America and the Caribbean. WSPA’s animal welfare education programme – IN AWE – has been endorsed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
More about UDAW >>
What has the Vet got to do with Domestic Violence?
Source: Animal Law News on Animal Law Blog
Research from Monash University (Australia) entitled “The Relationship between Family Violence and Animal Abuse: An Australian Study” indicates a link between domestic violence and animal abuse. The research is due to be published later in 2008.
Read the story here >>
“One of the Family” Reaches Thousands of Children
Royal New Zealand SPCA (RNZSPCA) report
It’s a sad fact that too many of the 11,000 complaints of animal cruelty and neglect received each year by the SPCA are at the hands of children or teenagers. This is the foundation of the SPCA’s “One of the Family” campaign, recently introduced into schools by the energetic, fleet-footed Norm
Hewitt.
February 2008
“The Unlikely Burden” translated into Swahili
AFRICANS EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION ON ANIMAL WELFARE: WSPA Africa Celebrates the Translation of “The Unlikely Burden and other stories” into Swahili
The Unlikely Burden and other stories is a children’s book of short stories which aims to transform perceptions of animals in Africa. A rising population, along with deepening poverty, is putting pressure on Africa’s wildlife, working animals and food animals. In turn this impoverishes the humans dependent on them. Millions of people in Africa are dependent on working animals, but animal welfare standards are often low. The title story in The Unlikely Burden and other stories highlights this symbiotic relationship where the village bully is forced to accept help from a donkey he has mistreated.
Dr Noah Wekesa, Kenyan Minister for Education, Science and Technology wrote the foreword to the book. Some of Africa’s most celebrated authors have contributed unpublished stories free of charge, including Jomo Kenyatta literature prize winners Ken Walibora and Ruth Wairimu and journalist Rupi Mangat. The illustrations are by a young Kenyan artist, Kevin Amenya.
The anthology for children aged 9 - 14 looks set to become an approved school text book in many African countries, thanks to the activities and discussion plans included. WSPA has distributed the book to schools in Kenya and other African countries with a grant from the World Animal Network. Yvonne Owuor says: “Read this book with your children!”
11 year old reader Andrea Kenneth from Nairobi says: “The goats were funny and the book made me wonder how it is to be a goat. Some of the stories go from sad to happy and some leave you in suspense – I like that.”
The Unlikely Burden and other stories is now available in English and Swahili. If you would like a copy for your organisation or school, please contact Raphael Omondi, Education Manager, WSPA Africa, email: raphaelomondi@wspaafrica.org
RSPCA People With Dogs Project
A new scheme aimed at reducing intimidating and anti-social behaviour with dogs on London's streets was launched in Brixton. The 'People With Dogs Project', supported by the Mayor of London, brings together three leading animal charities - Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, The Blue Cross and the RSPCA - with the Greater London Authority, the Metropolitan Police and Wandsworth Council.
A gritty short film produced by the 'People With Dogs Project' was unveiled as part of an educational pack exploring the issues surrounding dog ownership. It is targeted specifically at young people and fronted by popular Brixton MC Wordsmith, a keen dog lover.
ASPCA® Announces New Chapter In Humane Education
NEW YORK, February 4, 2008
The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® launched a new chapter in its national Humane Education program: “Henry’s Book Club,” at www.aspca.org/henrysbookclub. This is a new, online, interactive program designed to expose young readers to quality humane literature and increase awareness of animal welfare among children.
January 2008
Teaching Kids to Save the Dogs
Taken from the Phuket Gazette, January 12-18, 2008
After a series of meetings with Phuket’s director of education, the Soi Dog Foundation will commence an education program in schools around the island. The first class will be held with pupils from Muang Thalang School early this year. If successful, the program will be expanded to more than 60 schools in Phuket.
Gill Dalley of the Soi Dog Foundation devised the program. Mrs Dalley was recently nominated as Asian of the Year by Singapore’s Channel News Asia, making her the first non-Asian to be nominated for the award. Mrs Dalley, who lost her legs three years ago after rescuing a dog from a flooded water-buffalo field, will be featured in a documentary about her work with Phuket’s dogs. The documentary will be shown in 15 Asian countries later this year.
Speaking about the education program, Mrs Dalley said, “We are excited about this development. It is something I have wanted to do for a long time. I firmly believe that the only way we can change people’s attitudes to animals is through educating the next generation. There is a desperate need to reduce the stray population. The program will explain to children the work of the Soi Dog Foundation, focusing on sterilization. The lessons will teach children how to be responsible pet owners and will focus on HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s message to his people regarding the country’s stray dogs”, she said.
“HM The King, in the forward to his book about his dog Tongdaeng, requested his people to adopt stray dogs, rather than import expensive luxury breeds, which take a toll on the economy of the country. As he pointed out, stray Thai dogs are usually humble and faithful to their owners. They are also are extremely intelligent. Most have the desirable qualities people want from a pet dog,” added Mrs Dalley. “The first lesson will be held at the Phuket dog shelter. As well as structured lessons, there will be activities and interaction with the dogs. Our aim is that the children will learn to understand dogs and the problems they face. We want to inspire them to become the eyes and ears of their community, reporting to us about stray dogs in need of sterilizing and persuading owners to have their own dogs sterilized, rather than allowing them to breed and add to the problem”, she explained.
Waraporn Jittanonta, who has worked extensively with the International Red Cross and UNICEF, will co-present the lessons with Mrs Dalley. Nick Anthony of Indigo Real Estate, who has offered to donate several thousand copies of his recent children’s book about his own ex-stray dog Princess Sausage, described the program as “wonderful news”. I wish them every success in this venture. Clearly, there is a need for it. With Phuket’s population growing along with the amount of garbage on the streets, the stray-dog population on the island should also be increasing. However, it isn’t – mainly because of the Soi Dog Foundation’s efforts in sterilizing more than 17,000 dogs and cats in Phuket.
It could be argued that frequent road kills are factor in the lack of a population increase, but the number of dogs killed on the roads is tiny and countered by the number of puppies brought onto the island each week for sale at pet shops and markets. Studies show that in areas almost completely cleared of dogs, the numbers rapidly increase again to their former level within a few months. Major poisoning campaigns were carried out in Bangkok for years before they were outlawed as inhumane. The population never decreased. Similarly, in Bali, where the number of stray dogs is estimated to be around 500,000, such campaigns have been fruitless.
Next year, a research team funded by the Australian government will spend several weeks on the island to study the methods used and see if these methods can be used to deal with feral cats in Australia.
The Soi Dog Foundation are a WSPA Member Society based in Thailand. They have received funding and support from WSPA for their work.
To contact the Soi Dog Foundation, visit their website at www.soidog.org, email john@soidog.org or call 070 508 688 (International dialing code required).
Other Education News Sites
The following websites also contain news stories related to animal welfare education:
ASPCA Blog
Maintained by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
www.aspca.org
Humane Education Blog
Maintained by the Institute of Humane Education
www.humaneeducation.org
WSPA is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
