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Animal Awareness Education Programme
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This website will introduce children to the idea of rights and responsibilities. They can explore the issues of animal welfare, consider the needs of both animals and people and aspects of responsible pet ownership.
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The Animal Awareness Programme is there to instill values in our students, not only as future mature Maltese citizens but more importantly as citizens of the World. A world which from an early age children should learn how to respect, love and live within. A world which is inhibited by humans and other living species alike. Our main target is to educate children that through respect and love towards each other, animals and environment we can reach a balancing harmony and live a better life for all in this world. As Mahatma Ghanda said, a country which respects its animals and environment is a better one at respecting itself. This is exactly what we as educators would like to pass on to our students in order to invest for a better future where people will accept and respect diversity and the respective needs. If a child from an early age can respect, love or take care of an animal and the environment, the same he / she will do with other people when grown up! Animal Awareness is not to be celebrated only on the 4th of October, feast of St.Francis – patron of animals. It is a continuous process which must be given the adequate importance all year round ! Also it does not involve just and only our pets’ welfare – indeed we should take care of our pets and see that no cruelties are occuring ( like dog / cock fighting, and abbondened pets ) but special importance is to be given to all wildlife animals and their habitat. It was such a happy moment when we were invited to assist at the setting free of 11 gorgeous turtles who were adopted by the staff at Forti San Lucjan after being injured by natural causes or badly enough by injesting plastic refuse in the sea. After some years of required rehab these turtles were again set free at the Riviera Beach in Ghajn Tuffieha on Friday 10th of October. It was such a joy to assist to such a special event! Cruel irresponsable animal testing, poaching, deforestation, extinction are just a few of the problems which we discuss with our students. As mentioned before we are citizens of the world – so even if these issues seem far away from our islands, they do happen in our world! Our programme involves visiting schools in Malta and Gozo and delivering lessons to children in regards to these mentioned issues. All local NGOs were invited to participate in this project and though the way is long we truly beleive that together as citizens of one world we can make it happen - that is, aiding ourselves in living harmonously in a healthier environment no matter what race or species you are !
Janice Chetcuti Animal Awareness Co ordinator Education Division, Malta |
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