Organized by: Voices for Animal Welfare (VfAW), in partnership with Integrity School (Mkonoo, Arusha).

Safe for Every Being: Ending Violence Against Children and Animals is a July–August 2025 prevention and awareness campaign led by Voices for Animal Welfare (VfAW) in Arusha, Tanzania. The campaign responds to an often-overlooked reality: violence against animals and violence against children frequently co-occur in the same households and communities. Drawing on field experience and evidence-based approaches, the campaign treats animal cruelty not only as a welfare issue, but also as a potential early warning sign of wider harm, and promotes empathy as a teachable protective factor for both children and animals.

PURPOSE AND APPROACH

The campaign’s goal is to prevent violence by nurturing empathy, breaking the silence around co-occurring abuse, and strengthening a shared community culture of emotional safety, at home, in schools, and in public spaces.

It follows a multi-audience, multi-sector model, bringing together education, mental health, child protection, and animal welfare to strengthen prevention, early identification, and practical support pathways.

WHO THE CAMPAIGN SERVES

Safe for Every Being is designed for:

• Teachers and school counsellors

• Children aged 6–14

• Parents and caregivers

• Wider community audiences through public awareness and media

CORE CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES

The campaign combines four complementary components:

• Teacher & School Counsellor Training to strengthen understanding of the child–animal abuse link, improve early identification of distress, and support appropriate referral and response.

• Student Empathy Sessions delivered in a school setting through storytelling, group discussion, and creative activities that build emotional awareness, kindness, and non-violent responses.

• Parents’ Empathy Workshop focused on non-violent parenting, emotional regulation at home, recognizing warning signs, and knowing when and how to seek help.

• Public Awareness & Media Outreach through posters and digital messages that share practical guidance and encourage safer, kinder community norms.

EXPECTED RESULTS

Expected results include reaching 50+ educators/parents and engaging 100+ children, strengthening coordination between relevant actors, and leaving behind reusable tools and materials that support ongoing prevention beyond the campaign period.

PARTNERS AND CONTRIBUTORS

Safe for Every Being is delivered with the support of:

• Integrity School – Mkonoo, Arusha, host for child-centred activities and a values-driven school emphasizing conservation, community service, and personal development.

• Mr. Saul Magawa (Psychologist), lead psychological expert and co-facilitator for teacher training and the parents’ workshop, ensuring a trauma-informed and age-appropriate approach.

• Ms. Jeremiah Kisanga (Child Welfare & Administrative Coordinator, The Small Things Tanzania), contributor of practice-based insights from child protection and community development.

• Inspector Salama Halfan Ally (Head of Police Gender & Children’s Desk, Usa River Police Station), contributor on the legal framework and frontline realities of protecting vulnerable families.