Ignorance is one of the top causes of Animal Cruelty. To eradicate animal cruelty, we believe that humane education is fundamental in teaching people to respect and care for animals.
The Cape of Good Hope SPCA Ani-Pals Education Programme aims to educate children about the importance of being compassionate to all animals, including domestic pets, farm animals and wildlife, animal welfare principles and the goals and mission of the SPCA.
About the programme
The Cape of Good Hope SPCA’s Education Department works with public and private schools all over Cape Town, specifically targeting grade 3, 4 and 5 learners to demonstrate the needs of pet owners to learners in a simple manner to encourage them to make informed and morally responsible and accountable decisions about their health and their environment with pets.
Our education officers visit primary schools throughout the greater Cape Town area to give talks, show DVDs and present the SPCA’s Ani-Pal Education programme, which includes an interactive puppet show and classroom activity booklets.
The programme is run in three different languages: English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa.
The impact of the success of Ani-Pals on the youth of Cape Town
In 2007, the Cape of Good Hope SPCA’s Ani-Pal education programme was awarded top honours by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) as it was known at the time, which considered educational programmes from organisations in 90 countries.
As part of the added benefit of the Ani-Pals Education Programme, school children from impoverished communities are encouraged to bring their pets for free sterilisation and parasite control.
Due to the programme’s rapid success, we have had an increased number of primary schools requesting to participate.
The success of our Ani-Pals programme has also been recognised by the Western Cape Department of Education and as part of the curriculum for life skills for Grade 6 learners, they have to research an NGO or NPO, and the SPCA is listed as an organisation of choice.
If you would like to book a puppet show for your school or institution, please fill out all the necessary details below, and we will get back to you.
