When children out on the Chapala malecon last Sunday (World Animal Day) were invited to make a spontaneous drawing involving an animal, they jumped into the task wholeheartedly.
Some children drew their own pets with a bowl of food and water and a ball, and then explained that animals need feeding and they need to play. Others drew themselves and their parents with dogs, demonstrating their understanding that animals need to interact with human beings. They drew cats playing with a ball or with a tree to climb and a sunny spot to lie in. They drew dogs and little houses, recognizing that animals need a home and a place to sleep.
One six-year-old boy’s drawing included ants, caterpillars, butterflies, and spiders surrounded by hearts. He explained that we have to care about and respect insects too.
As the children drew, Martha Mena, coordinator of Alianza por una Educacion Humanitaria (APEH), distributed copies of a list of the rights of animals.
The interactive project aims to promote awareness among children of all ages about how to live and behave responsibly towards the environment, animals, and each other.
In three years, the course has reached more than 5,000 children in 36 Lakeside schools.
APEH’s sponsors are Lakeside Friends of the Animals and the Satellite Rotary E-Club of Lake Chapala, which is part of the Rotary Club of Ajijic.