Effective animal welfare education changes children’s hearts and minds

Jasmijn de Boo

Education and Training CoordinatorWorld Society for the Protection of Animals

(WSPA)

Presentation overview

1. About WSPA

2. Why Humane Education matters

1. Definition of Animal Welfare Education

2. Animal Welfare Education is about values

3. The Violence Link

4. Evaluation studies

3. The International Animal Welfare Education (IN AWE) Programme

1. Curriculum approach

2. Partners and networking

3. Implementation

4. Conclusions

1. About WSPAVision

A world where animal welfare matters and animal cruelty ends

Mission

To build a united global animal welfare movement

Aims

1. Promoting protection of animals

2. Preventing cruelty to animals

3. Relieving animal suffering

4. Promoting animal protection legislation

5. Promote humane education programmes

1. About WSPA

• 13 WSPA offices throughout the world (projects & campaigns focus mostly on Central and South America and Asia)

• >660 Member Societies in 142 Countries

• Consultative status at United Nations & Council of Europe

• World Health Organisation & the OIE

WSPA works through:

1. Practical hands-on projects

2. Campaigning

3. Education and training

4. Member Society Development

1. About WSPA – continued

WSPA Education & Training

2. Why Humane Education matters

BECAUSE IT:

• Links animal welfare with social justice, citizenship and environmental issues

• Recognises interdependence of all living things

•Contributes to the development of a sense of awe and responsibility for the natural world and for the animals which share it

•Helps develop children’s attitudes and critical thinking skills in order to become more compassionate and respectful

• Empowers children to make decisions and take action as responsible world citizens, helping the planet, animals and people in an appropriate and sustainable manner

2.1 Animal Welfare Education

Animal Welfare:• Scientific assessment of feelings, biological

functioning, naturalness• 5 Freedoms: from hunger & thirst; discomfort; pain,

injury & disease; fear & distress; and to display natural behaviour

Animal Welfare Education (AWE):• A process, which promotes knowledge, skills,

understanding and attitudes related to our involvement in the lives of animals, the effects this has on animals’ ability to satisfy their needs, and the responsibility this places on us.

• Animal welfare education includes topics such as animal biology, law and ethics, which are necessary to understand how we can reduce animal suffering and enhance welfare.

Best qualities of human beings• Kindness• Compassion• Honesty & trustworthiness• Generosity• Courage• Perseverance, self-discipline &

restraint• Humour and playfulness• Wisdom• Integrity• Willingness to choose and change

From: The Power and Promise of Humane Education (Zoe Weil, 2004)

2.1 Animal Welfare Education is about values

2.2 The Violence Link

in humane attitudes• “Generalisation effect"

from animal-related attitudes to human-directed empathy

in self-esteem• Appreciation & respect for

nature in city children• Care, respect and justice

guide moral thoughts & actions

• Interaction with pets has a + influence on empathy

• Contradictions regarding gender differences and age

• Some report increase in knowledge as well as attitudes, others only observe attitude changes

• No longitudinal studies

• Unguided interaction with animals may be a negative experience for the animal

?

2.3 Evaluation studies of Animal Welfare Education

3. The International Animal Welfare Education (IN AWE)

ProgrammeWSPA focus: Animal Welfare

Target audience: 5-16 age range worldwide

Aim: to embed humane education in the curriculum

Approach: variable, but according to similar principles & guidelines:1. Partners and Networking2. Research and Development (HE resources

database)3. Content4. Professional Support

3.1 Curriculum approach

AWE enriches the curriculum:

1. Supplementary to existing subjects

- Life sciences (Biology, Environmental & Agriculture,

etc.)

- Personal and Social Education

- Religion Education

- Language

- Arts

2. Complementary as a ‘new’ syllabus

3.2 Partners and Networking

Strong partnerships ensure ownership by the respective countries and their educational systems. Partners could include:

1. National or local government2. Educational Institutes/Teacher-training providers3. Curriculum developers4. WSPA Member Societies5. Other NGO’s6. UNESCO/WHO7. Other Partners

3.3 Implementation

• Prioritize countries in which to launch ‘IN AWE’

• Implementation plans include:1. Internal Country Audit2. Timeframes3. Resources needed4. Country Specific plans and Regional Development

Plans

• Project Sustainability

• Costa Rica (Respect for All Forms of Life, 1990-2006)

• Achievements in 2005:– Training sessions for 600

participant schools. More than 150,000 children were involved

– A cross-curricular module on animal welfare was produced for an environmental education programme

– 20 schools set up projects related to the protection of animals

• Software activities in 2006

3.3 Implementation – Case Study

• Exciting prospect for including AWE in existing curricula worldwide

• Evidence-based research and development

• Time-consuming and long process• Labour intensive (staffing levels)• Dependent on other stakeholders• Translations• Effective cooperation with Partners

4. Conclusions and challenges

Thank you for your attention!Muito obrigada