AAW 2009 painting competition winning entry by Rohit KR of S.B.O.A. School & Junior College, Chennai

IFAW's international education initiative, Animal Action Week (AAW), aims to educate, sensitise, raise awareness and generate interest in animal welfare and conservation issues, particularly amongst young people across the world.

AAW carries IFAW's core message of animal welfare and conservation across countries and generations. It reaches a wide base of school children and educators generating thought and awareness at different levels. It packages animal welfare sensibilities in an exciting and understandable format - reaching out to young minds to trigger interest, action and  involvement. 

IFAW and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) have been conducting the Animal Action Week for school children in India since 2003. Participating schools receive a free education activity pack, film (VCD) and other AAW material every year on a globally common theme. This instructional pack can be adapted  for varied classroom use - from science and environment lessons to drama and writing. Co-curricular activities - debates, quiz competitions, painting and essay competitions etc are also arranged as part of the AAW activities.

Two of the best entries from the Animal Action Week competitions are selected to be awarded the IFAW Young Achiever's prize. The award now comprises a certificate and a cash component. 

This year, widely recognised as the 'Year of the Tiger', the IFAW Animal Action Week 2010 with the theme 'Born to be Wild - Saving the Majestic Tiger' attempts to spread awareness on the plight of wild tigers across the world. The free activity pack provides teachers and students an insight into the world of tigers, threats faced by them in a number of tiger range countries including India, conservation initiatives being undertaken, among others.

This year, like the last, the AAW is supported by Leonardo DiCaprio, hollywood celebrity and environmentalist.

In 2003, the theme was 'Protecting the Last Elephants'. Activities were focused in schools on the periphery of Rajaji National Park, where children living around elephant habitat were sensitised to conservation issues related to the elephant.

The theme in 2004 was 'Keep Wildlife Wild'. Being a much more general theme on wildlife trade, schools all over the country were invited to participate in an all India essay competition.

Children participate in AAW-2005 quiz competition

In 2005, the theme was 'Caring for Our Best Friends, Companion Animals' wherein a live quiz contest was conducted among schools in the Delhi – National Capital Region.

Animal Action Week in 2006 focused on 'Making Waves for Seals'.  Expressions in the form of original art were invited from participating schools to paint seals in their natural environment.

In 2007, the theme was 'To the Rescue' and participants painted one of the many animal species that IFAW-WTI has rescued from natural disasters in the past.

The theme for Animal Ation Week 2008 was ‘Beneath the Waves – Protecting Marine Wildlife’, focusing on conservation of marine wildlife. It examined how our survival relies on the seas, what they provide, how we are impacting the environment beneath the waves. The material also outlined the threats faced by marine wildlife including over-fishing, hunting, pollution and global warming. Slogans and posters on marine wildlife and habitat were received from schools across the country.

AAW 2008 painting competition entries

The theme for Animal Action Week 2009,  'Under one sky – Why animals matter' aimed at introducing students to the fascinating world of animals, and the immense biological diversity that survives 'Under One Sky’.