1st INTERNATIONAL PAN AFRICAN ANIMAL WELFARE ALLIANCE ...

animal welfare education in schools is an important step in enhancing respect,responsibility and compassion in children.‘Animal welfare education in schools to enhance respect,responsibility and compassion in children’Diana Hulme of SPANA (file photo)She reiterated that teaching children to be kind to animals has been a core objective ofSPANA’s work since the charity was founded 90 years ago. She said that children aretaught that non-human animals are like humans in that they are sentient, have the samebasic needs and can suffer if their needs are not fulfilled. She added that chilren are taughtthat animals play an important part in all our lives and that we have a collectiveresponsibility towards them. Internationally, there is a growing movement towards thisstyle of education as many believe it contributes towards creating a more stable and moralsociety. In Kenya, SPANA is collaborating with Africa Network for Animal Welfare toestablish animal welfare clubs in schools that will be a platform for teaching animalwelfare. She added that this program is being piloted with a long term plan of rolling it outacross Africa.Stanley Mwangi of the Network for Environment Communication and Animal WelfareAwareness asked that animal welfare organizations set indicators of progress in animalwelfare (for individual animals and for the communities and owners of the animals).He said that advocacy for animal welfare has come a long way and a lot of gains have beenrealized but a great deal remains to be done. The situation in Kenya and many Africancountries is quite depressing as far as animal welfare is concerned.Among the challenges that undermine the welfare of animals in the region includes; weakanimal welfare legislation and enforcement, entrenched negative attitudes towardsanimals, inadequate political participation, declining cultural and value systems,inadequate animal welfare education, low levels of media involvement as well politicalconflicts. All these are areas where advocacy efforts have been targeted with varyingdegrees of success.He gave a nine point pillar to effective animal welfare advocacy1. Obtain official authorization: Establish what kind of authorization is needed to theparticular advocacy action you intend to take to avoid unnecessary confrontation withthe authorities. With the necessary authorization you will be able to have petitionssigned, undertake polls, walk on some streets among others.2. Enthusiastic supporters: Find people who are passionate and enthusiastic aboutanimal welfare and are willing to participate. Ensure these supporters have diverseattributes, professional backgrounds for instance communicators, politicians, legalpractitioners and some who are well connected.3. Mobilize funds: To effectively undertake an advocacy campaign finances are importantand mobilizing of these resources should be done early enough. Explore the variousmethods of mobilizing resources.Report of The 1 st International Pan African Animal Welfare Alliance (PAAWA) 2013 Page 27