Bringing Animal Welfare into Brussels Classrooms

The Current Situation

In Brussels, animals are present in our lives, but rarely in our classrooms. Despite growing awareness about animal welfare, most school curricula across the city still lack structured education on topics like animal rights, empathy toward non-human animals, or sustainable food choices.

At the same time, teachers and schools face pressure to address environmental issues, emotional development, and civic responsibility — all areas where animal-related topics can add depth and meaning. Yet without accessible, engaging materials or trained facilitators, these themes are often left out entirely.

The result? A generation of students that may care deeply about animals but don’t learn the tools to critically think about or act on their wellbeing.

Why It Matters

Animal welfare education isn’t just about animals. It builds:

• Empathy and emotional intelligence

• Critical thinking around consumption, justice, and environmental impact

• Awareness of how human and animal wellbeing are interconnected

• Respect for diversity and nonviolence

  
  

Studies show that teaching kindness to animals helps prevent violence — not just toward animals, but also between people. Concepts like One Violence / Une seule violence show how abuse, neglect, and discrimination often intersect. Teaching respect for animals can support a culture of compassion and care more broadly.

What We Want to Do

At Vegan Brussels, we want to make it easier for teachers and schools to talk about animals in a meaningful way. Here’s what we want to build:

• School Information Kits: Age-appropriate lesson materials (primary & secondary levels) covering:

  
  

  • Animal sentience and basic rights

  • Animals in the city (wildlife, pets, farmed animals)

  • Vegan food and sustainable choices

  • Role of legislation and activism

  • Animals in science and industry

    
    

• Classroom Talks & Guest Speakers: Offering in-person visits from trained speakers, including animal rights advocates, scientists, and vegan cooks. These talks can be adapted for ethics, biology, social studies, or environmental classes.

  
  

• Workshops for Teachers: Supporting teachers who want to explore these topics through training, Q&As, and access to teaching tools.

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• Partnerships with Schools, Youth Centres & Libraries: Collaborating on projects, events, and reading corners with animal-friendly resources.

  
  

• Creative Expression Projects: Encouraging students to reflect on animals through art, storytelling, video, or performance.

  
  

Who’s Already Doing Work in This Area

• Animal Rights (Belgium) has school campaign materials and occasional outreach programs.

• DierAnimal has promoted educational reforms including animal welfare in curricula.

  
  

But in Brussels, coordinated, language-diverse, and school-supported efforts remain limited. There's room (and need) for more.

Call to Action: Get Involved

We’re forming an Education & Animal Welfare working group to co-create resources, offer support to educators, and reach out to schools.

Would you like to:

• Help develop teaching materials?

• Speak in classrooms or at school events?

• Connect us with a school, youth organisation, or education policymaker?

• Translate or review lesson kits in French/Dutch?

  
  

👉 Sign up via our involvement form

👉 Leave a comment below. Share your insights, ideas, proposals, ...

👉 Share this initiative with educators you know

👉 Donate to support printing, translation, and workshop development

Let’s help young people in Brussels grow up with the tools to care, and the power to act.