<div><strong>Disconnection with nature is at an all time high; disconnection with the world’s animals is arguably higher. </strong>Only 4 percent of mammals alive today are wild; 60 percent are farmed. Meanwhile, we are losing the natural world we rely on faster than ever.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Could our love for animals help us to reconnect and make the change we need to see?</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Why Animals Matter </strong>is a 90 minute workshop, aimed at children ages 9-11, which hopes to support and encourage young people’s love of animals, by celebrating what they share, highlighting difficult ways the animals are sometimes treated and highlighting different ways of thinking about our friendships with them.
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/99100911_1777698394241407_r.png" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Through <strong>gentle storytelling, powerful short videos, open discussion, </strong>children are invited to step into the experiences of animals - to imagine their <strong>emotions, struggles, and joys</strong>.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Instead of focusing only on facts and figures, the sessions bring empathy to life by encouraging students to see animals as <strong>sentient beings with their own personalities, families, feelings and needs</strong> - just like us.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>The workshops have been commissioned by <a href="https://www.theempathyproject.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Empathy Project</a>, a cultural platform <strong>re-imagining the relationship between humans and animals</strong> and will be delivered by <a href="https://www.genearth.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gen Earth</a>, a social enterprise with extensive experience in developing and implementing engaging climate programmes for young people.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Each child will choose a species to learn about, discovering inspiring reasons to<strong> care for and protect them</strong> - from whales, the “teachers of the ocean,” to everyday creatures they may encounter in their own lives. They will be encouraged to imagine lives as those animals and, in group activities, to speak on their behalf.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Sensitive topics, such as farmed animals, will be explored <strong>thoughtfully and with care.</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>The workshops culminate in a <strong>creative opportunity</strong> where students imagine a kinder world for all living beings through art and craft. Space will be given for every voice to share and reflect on what compassion looks like in action.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>At the same time, studies have repeatedly shown real benefits to children who share affectionate bonds with animals: from strengthened perspective-taking and increased kindness towards others, to reduced stress and anxiety.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Successfully caring for an animal can make a child feel capable and valued. Kids who love animals are more socially competent and confident; showing a stronger affinity for nature, greater empathy towards their peers and, in another study, a greater willingness to enter pro-social and pro-environmental professions.
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/99100911_1777698557612021_r.png" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div>The <a href="https://stateofnature.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2023 State of Nature</a>report reveals that UK wildlife is in decline, with average species abundance <strong>dropping by 19% since 1970</strong> and nearly one in six species (16.1%) threatened with extinction.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Key drivers include intensive farming, climate change, and habitat loss, with only 14% of important habitats in good ecological condition.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>And yet the UK also claims to be an <strong>animal-loving nation</strong>, home to one of the world’s oldest animal charities, the RSPCA.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Films like <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81045007" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">My Octopus Teacher</a>have shown there is a hunger for stories that shine a light on our relationship with other species on this planet.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Why Animals Matter hopes to accelerate that conversation, putting animals in the centre of the conversation, not as a side issue, where they belong.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Animals are starting to emerge, <strong>from activism into culture and into how we imagine our future. </strong>Earlier this year, the <a href="https://www.emst.gr/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Museum of Contemporary Art in Athens</a> hosted a seminal year-long exhibition <a href="https://www.emst.gr/en/exhibitions-en/why-look-at-animals" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Why Look at Animals</a>; four floors of contemporary art dedicated to our relationship with other species. The <a href="https://www.lse.ac.uk/sentience" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jeremy Coller Centre for Animal Sentience</a> at the <a href="https://www.lse.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">London School of Economics (LSE)</a> - the world's first research centre dedicated to studying animal consciousness and sentience - was formally opened on September 30, 2025.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>This workshop<strong> joins these conversations</strong> at the right moment, when our children need support in reconnecting to the world’s other species, and in imagining new worlds of peace and equity for all.
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/99100911_1777698616812036_r.png" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Bel Jacobs </strong>is an advocate for climate and nature justice and for animals. She is founder of commissioning agent The Empathy Project. For five years, she delivered talks about animal rights and veganism to primary and secondary school children; much of her learning comes from that valuable experience. She also trained and, for two years, volunteered as a child counsellor with Place2Be.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Gen Earth</strong> is a non-profit social enterprise which helps young people feel inspired, empowered and better informed through increasing their access to conservation education. They work in partnership with the best conservation and climate justice organisations to boost their educational outreach.
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/99100911_1777698658233052_r.png" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>What we would like to see in the future: </strong>Early iterations of the workshop will focus on primary school level children but we plan to adjust the content for schools, colleges and universities.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>What we're committing to: </strong>With comprehensive outreach and marketing, we will bring this workshop into as many primary schools as possible, giving them a chance to engage with this issue alongside compassionate, experienced facilitators.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>A successful crowdfunding campaign strengthens our case for this expanded programme, demonstrating public support for funders.
</div>
<div>The workshops will be rolled out in June and throughout the rest of the academic year.
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/99100911_1777698746632602_r.png" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div>If we achieve our funding, we will expand the programme to hosting workshops in respected farmed animal sanctuaries, alongside animal behaviourists, so that students can meet the animals in person, taking their learnings into the real world.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>If you’re a school, community organisation, sanctuary or funder and would like to know more, please sign up below.</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>We wish to thank all those who have directly inputted into the workshop or provided valuable resources or inspiration that have contributed to the project's development
</div>

HELEN THAIR

Claire Holzner

Anonymous

Building children's empathy for animals

platform

Platform is iOS

Android

Adyen Google Pay Development Audience

$opt_dummy_attribute

English only

Deprecate Stripe Legacy

dyn_template_ids

Adyen V6 Bene Transfer & MyMoney Campaign Organizers - test01

Bene transfer V6 and AdyenV6MyMoney Campaign Organizers - production

OneTrust next-app audience

fundCountryCode

NextDoor Share Option Users

Fundraisers with Reactions feature capability

fundCurrencyCode

US + Non-charity COs Only

locale

fund country is US and user language is English

personId

comms-internal-person-ids

Enhanced Story Experience Users

Suggested Goal Experience Users

user language is English and fund country: US, AU, DK, FI, IE, NO, SE, CA, GB; 

Poster share - new funds eligible (newest 9/18)

Streaming widgets beta user

paymentProcessor

3DS payment method

user language is English and fundCountry: US, AU, DK, FI, IE, NO, SE, CA, GB; 

GoFundMe Employees

ipAddress

Mark Rieth IP Address

Version 9.2.0 and above

Fund is in English speaking country

desktop

Android v12.11.0 and above

Platform is Android

paymentMethodType

checkoutType

Payment method type group to be vaulted on success

admin pr kit prod

EUR Donation Upsell

Share Text generation Skip Fundraiser

(prod) new funds eligible for amp12 (UGC gallery)

fintrac_cad_idv_form_v2 audience

paymentProcessorAccountId

fallback mode accounts

proCampaignId

p2p legacy startfundraising page

be_supporter_comments_enabled_supported_funds

AMP24 New Funds Only PROD (DO NOT MODIFY)

countryCode

charityId

UKCharities

Federated Search Internal Testing

route.pathname community

US Donation Upsell audience 

Auto Thanks Feature Audience

Supporter Comments Eligible Funds

International Only

fundId

braze fundraiser group 

Payment Identity Transfers ATO Risk Check (Targeted) - Production

Fundraiser Saved Payment Method Rate Limit Bypass (Production)

leaderboard-partner-id-audience-givepanel

Version 9.2.1 and above

AUD Donation Upsell audience

fundraiserCountryCode is US/EN

Active Fundraiser - Smart Default Cadence

DAF Internal

Vault on success card payment method

Platform is iOS v11.0.0 and above

Desktop users

Person ids

United States (US) users

allow yuno fundraisers for test

Mexico country code

Posters INTL

NPO Profile Opted-In

iOS at or above 12.4.0

non-US recurring donors

Canada Campaign Owner Group

Fundraiser Without Meta Link

Scheduler payment tester gorup

charityCommunityId

Charities allow to be claimed unclaimed (PRD)

Canada (CA) users

currencyCode

UC Tipping v20250115 International

pymk_production_xplr_fe_team

Android at or above 12.2.0

Profile photo entry point audience

smart goals (fundraiser/manage) on test01

Activity Tracking v1 Beta Testing

writePath

Stream Notification

start gfm intl allowed locales

Platform is iOS v11.2.0 and above

prod_ach_audience

AI Chatbot Audience

amp13 only new funds (prod) (anyword auto)

UC Flow Enabled (Prod)

Payment Identity Beneficiary Verification - Production

shared notification bell audience

Custom users

ach frontend audience

Android v11.0.0 and above

Users Receiving Payments Paused Notifications

smart goals test01

Manage Coach - US English Organizers Only + new funds only

Team EGG - IP Address list

Fundraiser Without Instagram Deep Link

Native 11.4.0 and above

UC Tipping v20250107

Users Receiving Braze KYC Validation Failed

Native 11.3.0 and above

Influencer - Prod

US fundraisers and US users

userEmail

template_id

userId

fundUrl

isCharityCo

email

appVersion

shouldBucketIntoExperiment

partnerId

donationCadence

isActiveFundraiser

isPartner

isMobile

npoProfileOptIn

fundIsLinkedWithMeta

hasSessionDonation

isCampaignOwner

fundHasInstagramDeepLink

Native 11.4.0 and higher

New funds eligible - Video Sharing (PROD)

GB Donation Upsell audience 

Auto Thanks V3 Rollout Audience

Thank you V3 testing whitelist

isRecurringFriendly

Is Recurring Friendly

Excluded funds - Video Sharing

Logged In Users

CH Donation Upsell audience

Android v10.6.0 and above

userCurrencyCode

Localized Currency

v11.5.0 and above

testAudience

pathname

Survicate

appVersion is at or above 12.8.0

Non-charity fund

isChallengeFundraiser

challenge-fundraisers

Payment Identity Launch Verification - Production

New funds eligible - Posters v2

CAD Donation Upsell Audience

Braze Email Tester

NPO Profile Opted-Out

iOS App Version

hasKnownDonors

PYMK has donors

iOS v12.3.0 and above

Building children's empathy for animals

Still £3,428 to go. Help us build momentum.