Creating Compassionate Classrooms

Students in a humane education class at DAV school in RK Puram.

Not long ago, Vasanthi Kumar had an idea. She was the founder of STRAW INDIA (Stray Relief And Animal Welfare), a nonprofit based in New Delhi that seeks to improve the way animals are treated. The majority of their work lies in linking animal welfare groups to individuals who are working directly to relieve the suffering of stray animals.

In the course of her work, she wondered if children could be educated to have more respect and compassion for other living creatures. Vasanthi explains what she envisioned, "The outcome of this project would mean reaching out to tens of thousands of students in the whole of Karnataka and planting in them the seeds of compassion to all living things and respect for the environment."



Karnataka is an important and well-known state in south India, and its school board wields a great deal of influence in educating students throughout the country. If that state adopts a textbook or a portion of the curriculum for its students, it is quite likely that other school districts will also adopt those additions.

STRAW's education programs movies and hands-on activities for younger students. Its program for older students include animal first aid and introduction to the laws designed to prevent and prosecute cruelty to animals. Students at all levels are taught about how to be responsible animal owners and how contact with animals benefits human beings.

But Vasanthi's vision doesn't stop with just the state of Karnataka. Vasanthi explains, "Our ultimate goal is to take our 'Compassionate Classrooms' to all 35 states of India. Though India is a country where vegetarianism is not uncommon and animals are literally worshipped on many occasions, one could see the rampant prevalence of cruelty towards animals. And this situation is mainly because of unawareness of treating animals more compassionately. If only people were aware that an animal feels pain just as much as we humans do, animals in India would be a happier lot."

Older students learning about plastics pollution.

Vasanthi's work does require money. It takes money to keep the program updated and spreading to a wider area. The next generation depends on the generosity of this one.

Students get hands-on experience with a puppy.

Thanks to this article from Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/vasanthi-kumar-compassionate-classrooms-2013-impact-grant/; and the above link.

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