Progress'Report:'Humane'Education'Programme'in'China''

ACTAsia'for'Animals''December'2013'

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CONTENT

Part 1. Summary: Pages

Caring for Life – Humane Education Pilot Project 2012

1.1.An Introduction to China and ACTAsia for Animals. 2.

1.2.Summary: Caring for Life – Humane Education Pilot Project 2012. 4.

Part 2. Overview of :

Caring for Life – Humane Education 3 year Project 2013 – 2015

2.1. Overview : ‘Caring for Life – Humane Education 3 years project 2013-15. 7.

2.2.Action and presentation by Zhaung Naihui, a 7 year old student at 8. Tangguoan Memorial Primary School, Zhuhai, Guandong Province.

Part 3. Main activities:

Caring for Life – Humane Education in Action 2013

3.1.Humane Education in Action: Main activities 2013. 9.

3.2 Key milestones in 2013 11.

3.3.Proposed Plan for 2014. 11.

This document gives an overview of ACTAsia’s Humane Education project to date.

ACTAsia acknowledges and greatly appreciates financial support for this project from Lee Foundation, One Voice for Animals and Life Conservationist Association.

Thank you for your interest in the work of ACTAsia for Animals.

Prepared December 31st 2013.

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Part 1. 1.1. An Introduction to China and ACTAsia for Animals

ACTAsia was founded in 2006 by Pei-Feng Su and Deepashree Balaram, with the sole purpose of helping China evolve into a caring society, respecting all forms of life. ACTAsia is a registered charity with personnel based in Asia and Europe, who have been trained by leading international animal welfare organisations. ACTAsia is mainly staffed by the Chief Executive Officer, the Chinese Director and a small core of experienced volunteers, supported by a rapidly growing band of dynamic volunteers in China plus a volunteer International Board of Advisory Directors. ACTAsia is also a humane education affiliate partner of World Animal Net (WAN), which has Consultative Status at United Nations. WAN is the largest database of animal protection societies with more than 17,000 listings in 170 countries. Although only 7 years old, what ACTAsia lacks in age, is more than compensated for by the extensive knowledge and experience that exists within the organisation. ACTAsia’s Board of Advisory Directors has a combined wealth of expertise, as many of these individuals have worked for decades in the field of animal welfare, veterinary medicine, human welfare and social policy.

To date, operating on a ‘shoe-string’ budget, ACTAsia has delivered 5 years of capacity building workshops for Chinese fledgling animal protection and environmental groups; 4 years of practical training workshops for veterinarians in co-operation with Vets Beyond Borders; 3 years of campaigning against the farming and trading of fur and currently pioneering humane education programmes in schools, universities and vocational colleges.

An understanding of animal welfare is in its infancy in China; there are few animal welfare organisations; a lack of animal protection legislation and general indifference towards the widescale animal abuse and suffering. China has a population of 1.3 billion, equal to approximately 20% of the earth’s population. It is the most populous country on earth and divided into 34 regions (provinces, autonomous areas, municipalities etc.) When compared with Europe, which has a population of 734 million in 50 countries, or the USA with a population of 316 million in 50 States, one can begin to understand the enormous challenges facing active animal welfare organisations in China. Despite the size of the country, ACTAsia with limited resources is able to reach out to people nationwide. Through networking with individuals and groups via internet resources, ACTAsia is able to initiate activities on a widescale. Each year the support from various professional sectors, e.g. media, culture, public relations, and education, continues to gather momentum.

In 2011, ACTAsia compiled and published a detailed report, Changing China: Country status report within the political and social context, mainly to assist the international animal welfare industry gain insight into China’s history and culture, the rapid changes for society and the challenges facing the future of modern China. Currently, one significant factor for the animal

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welfare industry is the lack of a legal framework in which to work towards improving the status of animals. http://www.actasia.org/changingchina

Animal abuse inflicted by individuals and through commercial entities is widespread in China. There is a belief that violence to an animal or person, can help an individual relieve tension and frustration, so extreme abuse to animals is largely ‘accepted’. Commercial industries such as fur; livestock farms; bear bile farms; dog/cat eating farms are unlegislated, so there is little, if any protection for these animals. Extensive data detailing the abuse and extreme suffering of millions of animals in China every year is available through ACTAsia. This evidence obtained through both covert and open investigations and research, was conducted by international and national personnel. To date, amongst the human population in China, the general response to exposure of animal cruelty is still one of indifference. However through rapid social changes in recent years such as economic growth, increased international collaboration and the worldwide web, attitudes towards animals are starting to change, especially amongst younger generations. Human behaviour and attitudes can only change through the process of education. When an individual is well informed, he/she can make choices and behave accordingly, instead of reacting without considering the consequences. So through the process of humane education, ACTAsias believes that collectively, we CAN change the world for the better. By disseminating positive information we can help spread a humane message which promotes care and respect for all forms of life, i.e. for people, animals and the environment.

In 2012 ACTAsia organised a ‘Caring for Life – Humane Education Pilot Project’. In view of the outcome resulting in significant interest and demand from schools for further projects on this subject area, ACTAsia intends to use the 2012 template and develop it as a base for a further 3 years project: ‘Caring for Life Humane Education Project 2013, 2014, 2015’.

Main Objectives:

At the end of the 3 year project, the ACTAsia humane education programme will be incorporated into the existing curriculum of:

• A minimum of 12 primary schools/kindergartens in the cities of Shenzhen; Zhuhai; Xiamen, and Beijing, China, reaching an estimated 36,000 children. (based on 3,000 children per school).

• with a network of Collaborating Partners in other cities, using the ACTAsia Caring for Life Humane Education Course in other schools.

• with an estimated 180 Humane Educators specifically trained by ACTAsia to deliver the concept of humane education and equipped to train other colleagues.

• with Caring for Life Humane Education teaching pack, supporting materials and dvd, created specifically for the needs of China.

• with on-going support and evaluation by ACTAsia.

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1.2. Summary: Caring for Life – Humane Education Pilot Project 2012.

Since the founding of ACTAsia in 2006, the organisation has thoroughly researched and collated data relating to:

i) animal abuse in China ii) attitudes and responses of the general population to reports on animal abuse iii) rapid social changes in lifestyles affecting the lives of animals.

As a country becomes more affluent, once an individual’s basic needs and security are maintained, desires of the individuals increase. As a consequence, breeding and owning animals as pets is becoming ‘fashionable’, often with dire results for the animals, through the ignorance of the owners.

Since 2006, ACTAsia has been working with fledgling animal welfare pioneers, providing guidance and support through capacity building workshops; building relationships with central government and local governments; the veterinary profession, and the media.

So in 2012 with 5 years of research and evidence, ACTAsia decided to conduct a pilot project to address issues relating to respect for all forms of life: Caring for Life Humane Education Programme.

Through the interest and demand from schools and universities involved in the pilot project, a similar 3 year project will be implemented from 2013–15 where ACTAsia will further address issues relating to the interrelationship of all living things. Why all living things and not just animals? By recognising and accepting that each of us as individuals and collectively, have responsibility for each other, animals and the environment, this approach will provide a sound base in helping students to understand why animal welfare is an essential element in building a caring and respectful society.

Background: The Pilot Project 2012.

Managed by: Pei-Feng Su, Chief Executive Officer and Yuanyuan Zhang, ACTAsia Director in China.

Time line.

2006 – 2012. Research and collation of evidence relating to animal abuse; attitudes and behaviour of the general public towards reports on animal abuse; social changes and lifestyles affecting animals.

Conducted by Chinese volunteers i.e. university students; ACTAsia personnel and international associates.

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2006 – 2007. Distributed a teachers manual ‘Caring For Life’ to animal welfare groups in China. This book detailed general care of pets; companion animal issues; dog bite prevention.

2008. Gave 20 presentations/lectures to student clubs at universities in Beijing.

2009 – 2010. Gave presentations/lectures to university students and high school students on animal sentience and prevention of animal cruelty.

2011. Organised monthly interactive ‘Caring for Life’ forums. Invited celebrities, education professionals, media contacts, students and general public to discuss animal issues.

2012. April and May. Presentations/lectures to schools in Shenzhen and Zhuai

2012. June. A teachers ‘toolkit’ of humane education resource materials and activities, was developed after researching and reviewing materials from many parts of the world. ACTAsia’s education committee identified materials appropriate for the Chinese culture and obtained permission from the originators to include in the teachers ‘toolkit’.

2012. July. 2 x 2 days ‘Caring for Life – Humane Education’ workshops for Humane Educators, those selected for the workshops were either student teachers or other education professionals in Shenzhen and Zhuhai.

ACTAsia’s Chinese Director Yuanyuan Zhang, was responsible for identifying suitable participants for the workshops in co-operation with local educationalists. The participants in Shenzhen were a mixed group of students and animal welfare educators, within the age range of 18 – 40 years. The first day of the workshop was designed to encourage active participation in discussion and activities, with presentations and role play.

The evening session was led by a Chinese Educational Management professional from Beijing, who had designed humane education materials for school children aged between 4 – 8 years. Working with 5 groups of 6 participants, she gave advice and teaching techniques to enable effective communication with children, then after observing the participants role-play, gave constructive feedback. She selected 2 groups to prepare a lesson in humane education, for visiting school children on Day 2 of the workshop.

A similar pattern was followed in Zhuhai, when the participants, all student teachers, went into a classroom in a local pre-school and gave humane education lessons to 50 children.

The evaluation forms and verbal feedback from the participants and schools was positive, with course materials and presentations considered to be appropriate for their needs.

2012. August/September. 3 workshops for additional selected students were delivered by ACTAsia trained Humane Educators, to assist with regular humane education lessons when the new school term started, the following week.

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September 2012: 60 Humane Educators went to schools in 2 cities to deliver the first units of the 5 subjects: 1) Web of Life; 2) Animal Sentience; 3) Responsible Pet Ownership 4) Interacting Safely with Animals; 5) Compassion and Empathy.

Extracts from evaluation forms and verbal comments.

Miss Luo:Tanguoan memorial Primary School, Zhuhai.

….We are so pleased that ACTAsia’s Caring for Life Humane Education Course has started in our school. We see students eagerly waiting for the humane educators to visit their class and participating in the lessons. They are learning new ways of thinking about how they behave towards living beings and reflect on how they have behaved in the past. During a meeting with other school Principles and the Zuhai Education authority, we reported on this Course and use it as our school’s special feature for promoting moral education.

Mrs Huang: Born Global Kindergarten, Zhuhai.

….We welcome this Course. It is well designed, teaching the children through engaging activities, using new teaching techniques. It is all about their daily lives, not just about animals, but also learning the importance of being kind and compassionate to each other.

Mrs Zhang: Lipei Primary School, Shenzhen.

….This is an excellent and important Course…it teaches children to understand ‘Don’t do unto others what you don’t want to be done to you’.

Ma Ming Bian: Humane Educator.

….I have also learned a lot about life through teaching this Course. The children are eager to participate in the activities, it is new to them as the existing school curriculum does not discuss enough about the relationship between people, nature and animals.

Lin Hao: Humane Educator.

….From submitting my application, attending the training workshops and then teaching in the schools, I felt this to be a heavy responsibility. However after the first few lessons in school, I found that the smiles, the innocence and the kindness of the children, not only remind me of my own childhood, but help me to reflect on my life, so these children are also my teachers!

Xiaoya Lai: Humane Educator.

….When we teach these lessons, we first need to believe in them ourselves. By teaching humane education I am trying to demonstrate that we do not need to treat animals unkindly.

Student 1:

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….Animal fur is just like our hair. I like the teachers from ACTAsia, when they come we do games together and learn about animals and how to play kindly with dogs and not get bitten.

Student 2:

If an insect comes into our house, we should open the window so it can go outside where it belongs, not frighten it or try and kill it.

Part 2. 2.1. Overview of: Caring for Life – Humane Education Project 2013 – 2015.

Building on the research, experience and evaluation of the 2012 Pilot Project, this model will be used as a template for the 2013 – 2015 project. The pilot project was prepared in collaboration with Chinese nationals as a response to empirical research and data, with workshops providing an ideal opportunity to assess current beliefs and attitudes from the sample population attending the workshops, i.e. school children and university students.

One significant outcome of the workshop discussions, strengthened ACTAsia’s belief that for the Chinese society, a holistic approach to respect and care for all forms of life is needed rather than a ‘stand alone’ animal welfare approach.

During evaluation of the Pilot Project with Chinese educational professionals, it was agreed that student teachers were the preferred target group for training as Humane Educators. Other suitable applicants would be given full consideration and selected if appropriate.

3 contrasting cities were selected for the 3 year project, based on the differing lifestyles of their respective populations; i) Shenzhen, a major financial centre in the province of Guandong, south east China, human population more than 15 million – now ranked as one of most densely populated cities in the world. ii) Zhuhai, a coastal tourist resort in Guandong province with human population of 1.2 million. iii) Beijing, northern China, humane population of 22 million – the capital of the People’s Republic of China and the political, educational and cultural centre.

Other considerations in the selection process included e.g. i) interest from schools surveyed, ii) co-operation and participation with the 2012 pilot project and iii) the proximity to each city of ACTAsia’s personnel, who will actively manage and support the project.

Main aim of 3 year Project 2013 – 2015.

• To establish ACTAsia Caring for Life Humane Education programme in 12 primary/kindergarten schools in the cities of Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Beijing during a 3 year period, 2013 – 2015.

Key Objectives:

• To deliver the programme in primary schools/kindergartens, focusing on children aged 5-8 years, using Chinese Humane Educators.

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• To train student teachers as Humane Educators, through workshops and on-the-job training.

• To motivate school teachers to develop their own humane education programmes, specific to the needs of the Chinese society.

• To enable effective dialogue between Humane Educators and students, thereby strengthening their mutual understanding of the interdependence of all living things.

2.2. Action and presention by:

Zhaung Naihui, a 7 year old student at Tangguoan Memorial Primary School, Zhuhai.

Co-operation with the school in Zhuhai, came about through the actions of a little girl known as Kiki (Zhaung Naihui).

During an informal meeting to discuss ACTAsia’s ‘No Fur’ campaign, Kiki, the 7 year old daughter of one of the volunteers was quietly playing in an adjoining room. She came into the room when the meeting finished and asked if she could have some of the No Fur badges to give to her friends at school.

She not only took the badges to school, but asked her teacher if she could give a talk to her classmates. Her teacher agreed. After her presentation, Kiki gave a No Fur badge to each of her classmates, telling them to speak with their mothers when they got home and ask her not to buy any fur products.

Her teacher was so impressed after hearing the presentation, she asked Kiki to give it again to the whole school. On this occasion, it was captured on video and resulted in the Principle inviting ACTAsia to go regularly to the school to give lessons in Humane Education. These lessons began in September 2012. The Principle also offered the school facilities free of charge for humane education workshops.

Never underestimate the power of the child!

Kiki’s Presentation:

Dear teachers and classmates: Good morning, I am Zhaung Naihui (Kiki) from Class 2, Grade 1.

There is a cute animal called a fox and it has thick fur. Foxes have parents who take care of them just like our parents take care of us. They also have happy, warm families, just like us.

Everytime my mother and I walk into a shopping mall, we see so many fur coats in shop windows and even some children’s clothes with long fur collars. My mum always says sadly: ‘this is fur from foxes, this is fur from rabbits or this is from mink….The lack of care and respect for life is a very serious problem in our society today’.

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‘Naihui, there are some people who think that wearing fox furs makes them look good. So some merchants catch foxes in the mountains and forests and put them into cages, rip their furs off and sell them to consumers who don’t care about the animals lives’.

My dear classmates, next time your parents are buying clothes, please tell them not to buy any clothes that contain animal fur. It will be nice for you all to say NO to fur. Animal protection needs you and me and so does environmental protection. Our teachers have said that groups are going to be set up in the school, so lets go and join!

Part 3. Caring for Life – Humane Education in Action.

3.1. Humane Education in Action: Main activities in 2013.

NB. i) Students are aged 5 – 8 years; ii) There are 2 terms in the school calendar year.

September 2012 – January 2013. Term 1. 2 cities; 5 schools; 464 students; 60 humane educators.

Participating Schools: Tangguoan Memorial School, Zhuhai; Zhenshanmei International Kindergarten; Shenzhen Lipei School; Montessori Children’s Home; Red Tree West Coast Kindergarten.

The 1st Units of each of the 5 Subjects were taught: 1).Web of Life; 2) Animal Sentience; 3) Responsible Pet Ownership; 4) Interacting with Dogs Safely; 5) Compassion and Empathy.

Left: Humane educator explaining body language of dogs. Right: Examples of resource materials created by the humane educators.

February 2013 – June 2013. Term 2. The 2nd Units of each of the 5 Subject areas were taught. (As above).

June 2013. Collaboration with YouZi Foundation for a 2 week summer humane education programme for 1,400 children in the rural Provinces of : Qinghai; Gansu; Ningxia. This programme was based on the Caring for Life – Humane Education course, suitably adapted for the time frame, 30,000 copies of selected course materials and activity sheets produced for the needs of these children.

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Left: Volunteers preparing suitable materials for the rural project. Right: A class photo in rural China.

July 2013 – August 2013. Training workshops for 163 potential Humane Educators in 4 cities: Zhuhai; Shenzhen; Xiamen; Zhangzhou. Personnel attending: teachers from 10 Primary Schools; students from 15 Universities; and social workers from 5 Community Centres.

Left: An interactive training workshop for potential humane educators. Right: Humane educators arriving for group preparation before lessons.

September – Dec 2013. Term 1. 5 cities; 15 kindergartens, 8 primary schools; 5 community centres. 3,536 students; 163 humane educators.

Participating Schools:

• Xiamen: 4 kindergartens, 5 primary schools. Total 1686 students. • Zhangzhou Experimental School (grade 1) 12 classes, Total 600 students • Shenzhen Lipei Primary School (grade 2) 9 classes. Total 540 students. • Shenzhen Community Centres x 5. Total 120 students. • Wuhan: 10 kindergartens. Total 300 students. • Zhuhai Tangguaon Memorial Primary School: 210 students. • Zhuhai Born Global Kindergarten. 80 students.

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December 2013. Xiamen: Humane Education Training Workshop for 42 potential humane educators. All humane educators delivering the ACTAsia Caring for Life – Humane Education course are monitored and regularly assessed by the ACTAsia Education Manager in China and the Education team. Initially potential humane educators attend a 2 day workshop and if approved by ACTAsia, receive a certificate of competence. Before each lesson the educator must attend group preparation and practice their lesson plan. At the end of each lesson an evaluation form is completed by the educator, a representative of the school and ACTAsia.

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3.2 Key milestones in 2013, i.e. Year 1 of the 3 year projects. NB. Figures in brackets relate to the 2012 Pilot Project.

• Participating schools: 23 (5) • Participating cities: 5 (2) • Students reached: in excess of 4,936 (465) • Humane Educators trained: 205 (60) • Expansion of programme to include rural areas (urban cities) • Expansion of programme to include community centres (schools) • Programme now taught as part of the schools’ curriculum under the subject heading

Moral Education. (taught as non-curriculum lessons) • In 2 cities, the programme is taught by ACTAsia trained teachers who are directly

employed by the schools. (all lesson given by visiting humane educators) • Formal collaboration established with the Xiamen Municipality Education Bureau.

3.3. Proposed Plans for 2014 NB. These plans are subject to funding and the intended months as stated, may change. January 2014. Continue to progress the 1st Units of the 5 subject areas. (Term 1.) February 2014 – June 2014. Deliver the 2nd Units of the 5 Subject areas (Term 2). March 2014. Produce a Caring for Life – Humane Education DVD i) as a resource to support the existing humane education programme; ii) as a ‘stand-alone’ tool for schools in remote areas; iii) for use in the media; iv) to reach additional students in participating schools i.e. where there is not enough humane educators to give lessons to all classes. April 2014. The syllabus for the ACTAsia Caring for Life – Humane Education Pilot Programme 2012 will be published as an ‘approved’ publication by the Chinese authority to enable schools to purchase the syllabus and use it as a textbook. May 2014. Produce a ‘creative learning box’. These will be given to each student to stimulate creativity in the classroom, containing, e.g. activity sheets, stickers, coloured paper, safety scissors, glue sticks, colouring pens, etc. June 2014. Organise humane education summer camps in rural China.

July 2014. Construct a Caring for Life – Humane Education website to connect teachers, students, volunteers and therefore provide relevant teaching resources and on-line discussion forums.

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July 2014. Organise i) training workshops for newly recruited potential humane educators; ii) refresher courses for active certificated humane educators.

September 2014 – January 2015. Introduce 1st Units of Caring for Life – Humane Education programme into schools and community centres, as recruited during the year.

November 2014. In co-operation with the Xiamen Education Bureau, ACTAsia will host the 1st China National Humane Education Conference. This will be planned as a high profile event e.g. with invited government personnel, media, educators, teachers, students, active volunteers. International and national personnel will chair sessions and give presentations. ……………………………………………………………………………………………….

Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.

Nelson Mandela !

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