What we do

Educating to defend animal rights and protect the environment for a sustainable future of Planet Earth

Countries

Italy

Fields of intervention

Global Citizenship Education

Opening date: February 2022
Duration: 12 mesi
Closing date: March 2023

WHERE

Rome and province, Grosseto and province

CONTEXT

The consequences and pace of climate change caused by human activity are now unmistakably evident and accelerating. For the first time in our history, human activities are irreversibly degrading our ecosystem. A growing body of scientific research demonstrates that intensive farming of land and marine animals has a severe negative impact on the environment — through the depletion of water reserves, deforestation, and the use of vast areas of land exclusively for livestock feed — with direct consequences for the fate of future generations and, in the immediate term, for human health. Furthermore, the methods used to kill animals remain deeply cruel. For these reasons, the project has focused on interactive and practical awareness-raising programmes on animal welfare, targeting primary and lower secondary school children and young people, with the aim of guiding them to develop empathy towards all animals and introducing them to the concepts of responsible care, animal rights, needs and protection.

OBJECTIVES

General objective
To contribute to the creation and development of a more harmonious and just society, respectful of the lives of all beings and of the Earth.

Specific objective
To raise awareness among primary, lower secondary and upper secondary school students, teachers and civil society on the respect for all sentient beings — who, like humans, seek happiness and flee from suffering and the fear of death — and on how human behaviours driven solely by profit, rather than respect for our environment, are pushing the entire planet towards self-destruction.

PROJECT ACTIVITIES

Animal welfare workshops — Activities for students exploring the importance of care and respect for all forms of life.
Visits to the LAV animal rescue centre in Semproniano — Direct experiences with rescued animals and the creation of an illustrated book featuring children's drawings, to consolidate learning in a creative way.
Awareness sessions on intensive farming — Educational programmes for upper secondary school students to raise awareness of farming practices and their ethical and environmental impact.
Interdisciplinary online conference — A moment of in-depth discussion and exchange on issues related to animal welfare and sustainability, drawing on a range of disciplines.

RESULTS

Students gained increased knowledge of animal rights, protection and care — both at an individual and social level. Teachers acquired new educational tools for addressing topics related to animal and environmental protection. Students developed greater awareness of the risks associated with climate change and the links with intensive meat consumption. Civil society's awareness of these issues was broadened through an interdisciplinary lens.