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Animal Awareness Event Attracts Thousands

August 03, 2008, 7:59AM MT

By George C DeGiovanni

"Children are the future"

"Children are the future"

Written By Tanya Mahrous, Best Friends Network.

There is a famous song that says children are the future.

In Egypt, this is exactly what animal welfare groups are hoping for as they plan monthly Animal Awareness events. Teaching children to treat all animals with kindness and mercy – at the zoo, on the streets and in all aspects of their lives – is the purpose of these campaigns. The hope is the children will, in turn, be the driving force in encouraging adults in their lives to be more humane and respectful to all animals.

Seeing the sheer joy on the children’s faces provides encouragement to all volunteers involved in the events, which are sponsored by Animal Welfare and Research of Egypt (AWAR), a coalition of about 9 animal welfare organizations in Egypt. An awareness campaign held in conjunction with the World Environment Day on June 6 was so successful, it has encouraged the dedicated volunteers to schedule monthly events for a full year, with the most recent held on July 25th. The events are held at the Giza Zoo in Cairo, where weekend zoo attendance can top 50,000 to 90,000 people.

Animals Have Feelings Too

Promoting the message that “Animals have feelings too” is the mission, as the numerous signs remind event attendees. Teaching the children in a fun and relaxed atmosphere, with drawing competitions, multiple choice Q&A contests for children and adults, animal stories and games, is integral to promoting the kindness message.

While some of the children participated in a musical chairs game, others were busy in a drawing contest, hoping their animal picture would win the top prize. A 6-year old boy beamed with pride when his drawing of a donkey was chosen as the winner.

The children were treated to stories about treating animals humanely. One story was a delightful tale about treating dogs with kindness. Each time the puppies in the story barked, a volunteer made a barking sound – which elicited many laughs and giggles from the children. The other story was a heartwarming tale of a chimpanzee being rescued by a young girl and being placed in sanctuary. A final children’s event, a multiple choice Q&A contest, had children shouting out answers with the hopes of winning a special prize.

During the events, the children’s’ gazes were fixated on the white vans parked off to the side. It’s no surprise, considering there were 3 foot tall stuffed dogs teasing them from the roof and teddy bears bulging out the windows. The anticipation of winning animal-themed prizes, such as t-shirts, key chains, stuffed animals and hats brought big, bright smiles to the children’s faces, and many could hardly contain their excitement.

Promoting The Message To Adults

While the children were busy playing musical chairs and listening to their story, the adults were off having their own fun with a multiple choice contest. This activity was extremely positive and well received by adults, as they shouted out answers to questions that delivered messages about environmental issues, including kindness to animals.

The canvas bags, given as prizes for the adults served to promote these two themes. On one side of the bags, the message of “Mercy to Animals’” was printed; on the other side, a message discouraging the use of plastic bags. In addition, the adults learned about the damage that plastic bags do to the environment and most seemed truly excited to gain this knowledge. For many, this was likely the first time they had been given the message. The adults seemed to have as much fun as the children.

A Successful Zoo Event

The hot desert sun pounded the zoo’s pavement, but no one seemed to notice. The Awareness Events provide a great teaching opportunity for the Giza Zoo, as it focuses on revitalizing the zoo and improving the lives of its animals. Teaching both children and adults about how to humanely treat animals will go a long way in fostering the zoo’s mission.

By the end of the event, close to 2,000 people received the messages. For the many loyal volunteers, these educational and awareness events represent the future. Many realize that change won’t come all at once, but if they can reach just one child or adult at these events, they have been a success.

As the song says, the future belongs to the children. But maybe sooner, rather than later, the present can belong to the animals.

Special thanks to the following individuals and groups:

·Giza Zoo Management, for their commitment to these events
·SPARE, (Society of Protecting Animal Rights in Egypt)
·Amina Abaza
·AWAR, (Animal Welfare Awareness Research in Egypt)
·Magda Ahmed, Ahmed Alaa, Julie Dodd and Dina Zulficar
·DONKEY SANCTUARY
·Dr. Mourad Ragheb and Yasser Mahrous
·ESMA, (Egyptian Society for Mercy to Animals)
·Susie Nassar
·EMRO, (Egyptian Mau Rescue Organization)
·ESAF, (Egyptian Society of Animal Friends)
·AWARE
·Coca Cola, for donations of products and prizes
·PASA Primates, an organization dedicated to primates in Africa, for providing the children’s story about chimpanzees
·DogsTrust, a U.K. animal welfare organization, for providing the children’s story about treating dogs with kindness
·The many volunteers who helped out to make the event a success by helping to plan, fundraise and participate

How you can help:

·Make donations to any of the organizations:
·SPARE, Society of Protecting Animal Rights in Egypt: http://www.sparealife.org/
·Donkey Sanctuary, http://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/site/1/Egypt.html
·ESMA, Egyptian Society for Mercy to Animals: http://www.esmaegypt.org/
·EMRO, Egyptian Mau Rescue Organization: http://www.emaurescue.org
·ESAF, Egyptian Society of Animal Friends, http://www.animal-friends.info/new/home.html
·Donate supplies, such as food, water, toys, treats, bedding materials, towels, crates, etc
·Volunteer your time if you live in Egypt or visit frequently
·Contact the organizations before your next visit to Egypt to see if they need any supplies
·Contact a group to see if they are in need of an escort for foreign adoptions.
·Promote the groups and their missions on your websites or blogs

To show your support for animal groups working in the Middle East, please join the Egypt Community by looking to the right and clicking on "Join this Community."

Thank you!

Photos provided by Dina Zulficar:
Top photo: Amina Abaza, Founder of SPARE, shows children how to treat dogs with kindness
Second photo: Animal Friends van stuffed with toys and prizes

Posted by George DeGiovanni, Best friends Network

Comments

Posted August 03, 2008, 3:30PM by dinazu

Thank you Tanya, thank you George DeGiovanni,and all Best friends Network for encouraging us in Egypt. Animal Welfare and fighting cruelty to animals is a global isse, we all stand for one another, our cause is one. We have a long way to go, but I believe AWARENESS is the core besides pushing the legislation in each and every country, in the UN too.

Posted August 03, 2008, 11:41AM by PamelaB

What a fantastic story, Tanya! It's chock full of interesting information, and full of animals and admirable people, and built on the hope that children give us. Not only that, you offer us all sorts of easy ways to help Amina and others in Egypt help the animals.

I really enjoyed this presentation. Thanks, George, for posting.

Pamela at Greece and Cyprus, International Friends