Using Animal Care to Promote Empathy in Children

This project uses animal care to promote responsibility and empathy; limitations of which are reflected in Swazi national statistics:

• Children without adequate family care represent around 45% of Swazi children.
• Among children aged 2-14 years, 88% report at least one form of physical punishment at home.
• One of three females experience some form of sexual violence as a child. Male relatives are the most frequent perpetrators of physical and sexual violence
• Approximately 3 in 10 females experience emotional abuse as children. Female relatives are the most frequent perpetrators of emotional abuse.

In conjunction with the community spay day, we provide training in how young children develop and learn, and factors that influence this, so as to promote effective parenting practices at family and community level.

Feedback from a recent training showed a 36.76% increase in participant’s understanding of how every day attitudes and practices driving domestic abuse are rooted in how we raise and socialize our children in Swaziland.

"This training is particularly relevant in the context of Swaziland due to the prevailing attitude that corporal punishment is the only correct form of discipline. The high rate of gender-based violence in the country can be understood once a person goes through this training. It is very relevant towards ending the harmful childhood development practices that are accepted as the norm and are damaging the psyche of our future generation."

"I would highly recommend this training to others because this is one training that is an eye opener. I have learnt a lot and realized that our children don't just act funny, but that how we raise them affects them the most.”

Our 2018 spay day is scheduled for June 30. Providing much needed vetinary services to dogs and cats gives community participants first-hand exposure to the benefit of a well-cared for animal. This promotes responsibility and empathy, ultimately aimed at changing social norms driving the high rate of domestic abuse and neglect of children in Swaziland.

Your support helps make this happen. Thank you.