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Children display their AAW paintings |
The IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) Animal Action Week is the largest animal-focused educational activity in the world. It takes place during the first week of October, to coincide with World Animal Day on October 4 and draws participation from over two million children world wide. Many get involved long before — and continue their efforts long after — the official week. Organised in 16 countries including India, this is the 16th year of Animal Action Week internationally and its sixth year in India, where it is conducted in partnership with the Wildlife Trust of India.
ABOUT ANIMAL ACTION WEEK (AAW) |
IFAW's international education initiative, Animal Action Week (AAW), aims to educate, sensitise, raise awareness and generate interest in animal welfare issues, particularly amongst young people across the world.
AAW carries IFAW's core message of animal welfare 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.
The theme for Animal Action Week 2008 is 'Beneath the Waves – Protecting Marine Wildlife'. It examines how our survival relies on the seas, what they provide, how we are impacting the environment beneath the waves. The material also outlines the threats faced by marine wildlife including over-fishing, hunting, pollution and global warming. It also explores how, through learning about the oceans, we can help protect marine wildlife. This year, the AAW is supported by Leonardo DiCaprio, hollywood celebrity and environmentalist.
The classroom activities this year include a quiz programme, passage writing on marine species, debate on animal welfare issues, pledge collection against plastic use and an outdoor, public activity of Pick Up Plastic. Participants in India are invited to contribute their entries for the slogan-writing and poster-making competition by November 30, 2008.
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The AAW 2008 activity packs in English and Hindi |
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About 1500 schools from all over India have been invited to participate in AAW 2008. In addition, 350 non-government organisations (NGOs) have been invited to collaborate and help spread the outreach of AAW to schools at the district level in their respective regions. This will take Animal Action week into India's vast and deep hinterland.
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To enable this outreach for the first time, this year, the activity packs have been translated to Hindi to encourage participation from regional Hindi-medium schools.
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In addition to the usual material, the AAW 2008 package for regional schools this year also includes Hindi and Malyalam versions of 'A Field Guide to Indian Mammals' by Vivek Menon, Executive Director, WTI. This is mainly for distribution in schools at the district level, especially those fringing forest areas.
PAST ANIMAL ACTION WEEKS IN INDIA |
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.
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.
In keeping with a different theme each year, 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.
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AAW 2007 paintings on display at Stein Auditorium, Delhi,
during the National Animal Awards function |
IFAW YOUNG ACHIEVER'S AWARD |
Two of the best entries from the Animal Action Week competitions are selected to be awarded the IFAW Young Achiever's prize. The award is given at the prestigious National Animal Awards function organised on February 19 in New Delhi every year. The award comprises a certificate, a citation, a trophy and a cash component.
The closing date of the 2007 Animal Action Week competition saw a total of 700 paintings received from schools that had sent in their best short-listed entries; 203 specially designed greeting cards, 6467 pledges and reports and photographs from 10 schools.
The final winners were chosen by renowned artist Bulbul Sharma from entries short-listed by an internal jury. Saumya Uttam's painting of a forest fire and people helping animals and Tuhina Kahali's painting of people stopping a train to enable elephants to cross over and depicted the essence of animal rescue.
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Painting by Tuhina Kahali that won her the IFAW Young Achiever's Award |
Tuhina Kahali
Her undying love for animals finds an expression in her drawings and that exhibits Tuhina Kahali's innate ardor for all living beings. Her inspiration being none other than her idol, Sunita Williams, she at 14, is determined to get there as well. After winning accolades in school in numerous activities, she has carved a special niche for herself. She won the Complan ACE Award 2003-2004 for exhibiting excellence in academic and co-curricular activities. She has also received awards in dance and drawing competitions at state level and at the TTIS carnival. She received a certificate of appreciation by the Kidzee Talent Hunt and has participated in the Zee Interactive Learning System. She is the recipient of the Certificate of Honour in the Gypsy Event and had participated in the Republic Day Parade in 2006.
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Painting by Saumya Uttam that won her the IFAW Young Achiever's Award |
Saumya Uttam
Yet another sensitive child, who shows compassion in her formative years, Saumya Uttam of St Mary's School, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi, conveys that animals are as important as humans to maintain a balance in nature. This is no mean achievement for this winner of the Young Achiever Award 2007. She wants to be a scientist and her role model is her uncle who is in the Indian Foreign Service. Saumya won a second prize in the Science Olympiad. She also won the third prize at the Agnel Talent Fest and participated in the All India Camel Colour Contest 2005-2006 in a portrait-making competition.
For more information on Animal Action Week, please contact:
john@wti.org.in (or) sheetal@wti.org.in
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