By Dada Shiilabadhrananda
In 1977, Shrii P.R. Sarkar the founder of Neohumanist philosophy founded the PCAP organization to provide a physical medium through which the sublime ideals of love for all created beings could be adequately expressed. The acronym PCAP stands for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Plants. Amongst the broad objectives there is ample scope for children to express their love and care for animals and plants.
PCAP Croatia has an environmental education program involving birds. PCAP received a 17,000 Euro grant from the National Foundation for Civil Society Development to teach children how to build bird houses and care for the birds of their area. Three hundred children ages 12-14 years from 4 schools in Zagreb County participate in this environmental education project which is expected to continue for another two years. The project re-introduces technical skills to junior high school students which has been absent from the national education curriculum for the past 15 years and combines that with knowledge of biology and environmental protection. Three PCAP staff are employed in this project. Not only do the children build the bird houses but they are responsible to provide them their daily food ration, observe their nesting patterns, record their visits, identify the types of birds, and track their movements. All of this data is forwarded to the National Ornithology Institute.
PCAP Kids operational at the Neohumanist School in Lismore, Australia for the past 17 years has a variety of child based environmental programs that have tremendously inspired the children and has increased their awareness about the needs of animals and trees. PCAP Kids utilize global environmental dates (World Environment Day, Animal Day, etc.) to initiate one day events in their school. They have also established a plant and an animal sanctuary in their school, made bird baths and have linked with local animal welfare groups to raise funds and awareness about local animal rights issues.
PCAP partners in Durban, South Africa has developed a curriculum called, Yogi Guides. Yogi Guide teaches primary school children lessons in hygiene, health through yoga, nutrition and love of nature through recycling organic waste and small school garden.
PCAP partners in Nairobi, Kenya have started agricultural classes for the last four years: planting, making seedlings, composting, and a kitchen garden with 190 high school students and 280 primary school students. Visitors comment that it is the only school they have seen with so many plants!
For more information, you may contact Dada Shiilabhadrananda,
PCAP Global Coordinator: <dadashiila
gmail.com>.