Effective animal welfare education changes children’s hearts and minds

1. Effective animal welfare education changes children’s hearts and minds Jasmijn de Boo Education and Training Coordinator World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)

2. Presentation overview • About WSPA • Why Humane Education matters • Definition of Animal Welfare Education • Animal Welfare Education is about values • The Violence Link • Evaluation studies • The International Animal Welfare Education (IN AWE) Programme • Curriculum approach • Partners and networking • Implementation • Conclusions

3. 1. About WSPA Vision A world where animal welfare matters and animal cruelty ends Mission To build a united global animal welfare movement • Aims • Promoting protection of animals • Preventing cruelty to animals • Relieving animal suffering • Promoting animal protection legislation • Promote humane education programmes

4. 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 1. About WSPA

5. 1. About WSPA – continued • WSPA works through: • Practical hands-on projects • Campaigning • Education and training • Member Society Development

6. WSPA Education & Training

7. 2. Why Humane Education matters • BECAUSE IT: • Links animal welfare with social justice, citizenship and environmental issues • Recognisesinterdependence 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

8. 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.

9. 2.1 Animal Welfare Education is about values 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)

10. 2.2 The Violence Link

11.  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 ?

12. 3. The International Animal Welfare Education (IN AWE) Programme • WSPA 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: • Partners and Networking • Research and Development (HE resources database) • Content • Professional Support

13. 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

14. 3.2 Partners and Networking • Strong partnerships ensure ownership by the respective countries and their educational systems. Partners could include: • National or local government • Educational Institutes/Teacher-training providers • Curriculum developers • WSPA Member Societies • Other NGO’s • UNESCO/WHO • Other Partners

15. 3.3 Implementation • Prioritize countries in which to launch ‘IN AWE’ • Implementation plans include: • Internal Country Audit • Timeframes • Resources needed • Country Specific plans and Regional Development Plans • Project Sustainability

16. 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

17. 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

18. Thank you for your attention!Muito obrigada