India Celebrates One of its Most Important Holidays with New Animal

Welfare Programs within Schools…  

RANCHO SANTA FE, Calif., Feb. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Helen Woodward Animal Center was honored with a very special recognition, bestowed from thousands of miles away. On Martyrdom Day, January 30^th, four schools in Chandigarh, India were designated “Animal Fan Clubs” in the Center’s name.  This designation signals the start of animal welfare studies within the schools and was facilitated by the organization Yuvsatta (translated – Youth for Peace). 

Last October, Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Associate Director of Education and Ambassador to the United Nations (Haylee Blake and Jacqueline Kelleher, respectively) traveled to the Global Youth Peace Fest in Chandigarh, India to lead a workshop on ‘How Compassion for Animals translates to Compassion for People and the Community.’  Annually, this conference gathers an estimated 250 attendees from Asian and African countries such as Malaysia, Philippines, Sudan, Georgia, Egypt, Jordan and others. 

Each year, the Global Youth Peace Fest is hosted by Yuvsatta and its founder, Pramod Sharma, who dedicates his life to helping build up the youth community in India out of Chandigarh. He works with local schools, colleges, government officials and other institutions to drive programming that sets youth up for success. Additionally, he works closely with marginalized girls in the slum communities to expose them to pathways for their future career and provide them opportunities for success in education. 

As part of the October visit, Blake and Kelleher introduced concepts from the Center’s Humane Education programs, along with copies of its ‘Sharing the Earth’ booklet, and provided examples of Youth Advocacy as inspiration to the many attendees from around the world.  During the trip, Blake and Kelleher received a Youth Leadership Award, met with local dignitaries, were featured in over 25 different media articles, and met with the lead Veterinarian at the Chhattbir Zoo in Chandigarh, all on behalf of Helen Woodward Animal Center.

The partnering of Yuvsatta and representatives from Helen Woodward Animal Center was an inspirational one.  The Center’s Humane Education program specifically focuses on the important connection between kindness to animals and its impactful translation into human kindness.  Along with leading talks and seminars, Blake and Kelleher provided Sharma a guide on how to start the animal fan clubs and a basic outline of meeting agendas plus additional Educational materials while also offering to mentor through virtual meetings with the schools on an annual basis.

Martyrs’ Day is observed on January 30 in memory of Mahatma Gandhi, who was assassinated in 1948 and remains a historical leading figure in India’s struggle for independence through non-violent means.  On this important holiday, Helen Woodward Animal Center received meaningful recognition as the catalyst to instituting Humane Education within four Indian schools – The New Public School, Chandigarh; GD Goenka Public School; Mohali, Kitabghar & Dev Samaj College of Education; and Sector 36-B, Chandigarh. 

“By teaching (children) about animal care, we’ll not only set the stage for a more compassionate and responsible relationship between humans and animals but will also ensure a sustainable world,” said Sharma. “Since ancient times, reverence and compassion for animals have been woven into India’s cultural motif. All major religions in India uphold these beliefs. But laws alone will not protect the rights of animals in India, humane education programmes like the proposed ‘Animal Fans Clubs’ have the potential to help plant the seed of compassion and justice for all animals early in children’s hearts.”

Helen Woodward Animal Center’s work has always demonstrated its dedication to animal welfare, not only within its San Diego-based facility, but within shelters and rescues across the globe. In addition to its two global campaigns, Remember Me Thursday and Home 4 the Holidays, the Center’s The Business of Saving Lives conferences connect with animal welfare groups by providing free educational seminars locally and internationally assisting shelters from as far away as Argentina, Ethiopia, Singapore, India, Ireland, Kenya and traveling to Australia, Estonia, Scotland, Romania, Puerto Rico and later this year, to Croatia. 

In July 2022, Helen Woodward Animal Center was recognized with Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, the Center has been given numerous opportunities to showcase the importance of animal welfare in the global policy arena and has managed to connect with other organizations who share similar values. Additionally, the Center has been granted Observer Status to the United Nations Environment Assembly for their contributions to animal welfare work around the world.

This latest honor, in India, may be the most special to date.

“Humane Education doesn’t just change the way we view animals,'” said Helen Woodward Animal Center President and CEO Mike Arms. “It creates a more humane world.  To be recognized as contributing to instituting this kind of education within schools means the Center’s impact can go on long beyond its buildings.  The impact will be felt amongst animals and people alike for countless years to come.”

For more information on Helen Woodward Animal Center or its Humane Education program, visit www.animalcenter.org.

About Helen Woodward Animal Center

Helen Woodward Animal Center is a private, non-profit organization where “people help animals and animals help people.” Founded in 1972 in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., the Center provides services for more than 90,000 people and more than 10,000 animals annually through adoptions, educational and therapeutic programs both onsite and throughout the community. Helen Woodward Animal Center is also the creator of the International Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption drive, the International Remember Me Thursday® campaign and The Business of Saving Lives Workshops, teaching the business of saving lives to animal welfare leaders from around the world.  For more information, go to:  www.animalcenter.org.

 

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SOURCE Helen Woodward Animal Center