As part of the UFAW LINK scheme, the Animal Welfare Club at Makerere University has successfully launched several initiatives to raise awareness of animal welfare among students, with the aim of improving animal welfare practices in Uganda.
Led by the club's committee, key activities funded by UFAW included:
- Animal Welfare Week: Practical activities such as deworming, grooming, and farm animal care were conducted at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources, and Biosecurity (COVAB) to highlight the importance of animal care.
- Cross-college outreach: The club reached out to 210 students within COVAB and 647 students in other colleges of Makerere University, raising awareness and encouraging discussions about animal welfare.
- Experiential learning: A visit to the Uganda Society for Protection and Care of Animals (USPCA) provided hands-on learning experiences for 30 students, covering various animal care practices.
- Classroom discussions: The club engaged first-year COVAB students in discussions on animal welfare, fostering a deeper understanding of the subject.
- Newsletter campaign: Regular newsletters were created and distributed on social media to inform students about animal welfare.
- Promotional materials: The club produced T-shirts, notebooks, pens, brochures, and a signpost to promote animal welfare and increase the club's visibility.
The Club’s efforts have successfully increased awareness and fostered a passion for animal welfare among students.
The club, led by Chairperson Ssebagala Ahmed and Club Editor Mwine Arnold, expressed gratitude to UFAW for their support: “As a club, we would like to thank UFAW for making our project happen. Thank you for always supporting our animal welfare projects. We would like to continue working with UFAW on more projects.”
The UFAW LINK scheme is our international outreach initiative that encourages engagement with animal welfare science at a global network of participating universities and colleges. The scheme is an integral part of our work to develop scientific solutions to animal welfare problems and to disseminate evidence-based animal welfare information.
For more information about the scheme, or to become a LINK for your institution, please contact Dr Stephen Wickens at wickens@ufaw.org.uk.
