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Education is key to transforming animal welfare in the long term

Education is key to transforming animal welfare in the long term

New Education Bus For Schoolchildren Will Improve Animal Welfare In Tunisia

7 years ago
1413 views

Posted
31st May, 2017 10h44

Author
SPANA


Over 50% of cases seen by SPANA vets are avoidable with community trainnig

International working animal charity SPANA has launched a new education bus in Tunisia that will teach children about animal welfare and help them to develop compassion and respect towards animals.

The mobile exhibition bus is expected to reach more than 11,000 schoolchildren in Tunisia every year. It will tour the entire country, including visiting remote communities in mountainous and desert areas where ownership of working horses, donkeys, camels and other animals is very common.

The exhibition bus will offer children the chance to learn about animals and their needs through a series of interactive stations. They will also receive lessons and supervision from a full time SPANA education officer, who will accompany the bus on all its visits.

In addition to providing free veterinary treatment to working animals in developing countries worldwide, humane education is a key component of SPANA’s work. The charity’s education programme reaches more than 58,000 schoolchildren each year, including almost 18,000 children in Tunisia. The aim of the programme is to foster empathy and kindness for animals in order to promote positive attitudes and behaviours, and to bring about long term improvements in their welfare.

Working animals in Tunisia play a vital role in supporting the livelihoods of poorer families, who depend on them entirely. There are an estimated 616,700 working horses, donkeys, camels and mules in the country. By doing the jobs of trucks, tractors and taxis – and transporting key items such as food and water – these animals enable people in impoverished communities to earn a small income.

The official launch event for the bus was held at a primary school in Tunis in May 2017. Along with children and staff from the school, the event was attended by the Director General of the Tunisian Education Ministry, the Regional Director of the Education Ministry and SPANA Chief Executive, Geoffrey Dennis.

Geoffrey Dennis said: “The new mobile exhibition bus will be an important part of our education programme, helping to transform the long term situation for working animals in Tunisia. SPANA firmly believes that education is an essential part of improving animal welfare. By encouraging positive attitudes and practices from a young age, we can make significant improvements to the health and wellbeing of animals for generations to come.

“The bus will travel the length and breadth of the country, so it will have a substantial impact and will reach children in even the most isolated locations. Many families own working animals in these areas and a large proportion of the children we teach will become animal owners themselves. Education is therefore key to ensuring that working animals can enjoy a more compassionate future.”


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