Animal awareness programme at Dun Karm Psaila School

Dun Karm Psaila Boys' Secondary School, Zebbug, recently organised an Animal Awareness Education Programme leading up to a special event held on the occasion of the feast of St Anthony the Abbot, which is associated with the blessing of animals.

The programme consisted of cross-curricular lessons held during the first term of this scholastic year at which the students discussed topics such as dog fighting, animal testing, training of animals at the circus, and cruelty performed on seals and sea lions. The values mentioned during the programme continued to be instilled during Social Studies, PSD, Italian, Maltese and English lessons.

The special event held last month started with the blessing of students' pets in the schoolyard. This was followed by a varied presentation of video clips and PowerPoint presentations prepared by the students about various topics which had been discussed during the programme.

Speeches were delivered by guests Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando MP, who forms part of the National Animal Welfare committee, Analise Falzon, a representative from Nature Trust, Fiona Brennan from Hakuna Matata, a dog sanctuary in Siggiewi, and Premier Division players who spoke about their pets and how they care for them.

An exhibition of various works prepared by students during the lessons was put up in the school foyer.

Prior to the event students made donations to Hakuna Matata to adopt a dog from the sanctuary, and also offered dog food, blankets and pans.

The event was put up by Janice Chetcuti, peripatetic teacher and organiser of the programme, Vincienne Attard, teacher of Social Studies and Animal Awareness Link Teacher and the school's students' council organised the event with the support of Josephine Vassallo, education officer for Democracy and Values Education, the school administration, teachers, students and the Drama Unit.

The school has organised similar activities over the past two years to instil in the students, love, respect and care towards animals.