Love, Care & Rescue: ENPA meets students at H-FARM International School Vicenza

Thursday, February 20, was a special day for the students of PYP3, PYP4, and PYP5, who participated in an educational and charitable event organized by two students in the fourth year of the Middle Years Program. The event, held in collaboration with ENPA Vicenza, had a clear goal: to raise awareness among young students about the importance of dog and cat adoption and to collect funds and supplies to help animals in need.

The project, titled “Love, Care & Rescue,” brought attention to a crucial issue: the abandonment of pets and the role each of us can play in addressing this problem. Through concrete data, the organizers highlighted that every year in Italy, approximately 80,000 cats and 50,000 dogs are abandoned, a reality that requires greater awareness and concrete action. On a global scale, the number of stray cats and dogs exceeds 600 million, an alarming figure reported by the World Health Organization.

During the event, Sonia Chiaruttini, a representative from ENPA Vicenza, presented the activities carried out by the association to protect abandoned animals, explaining how people can contribute through donations, volunteering, and responsible adoptions. The PYP students listened with great interest, asking questions and showing curiosity about how they could make a difference in the life of an animal in need.

One of the key messages of the initiative was “Adopt, don’t shop.” Too many people buy pets without considering adoption as an option, while many dogs and cats in shelters are waiting for a family. Adoption is an act of great responsibility and love, one that can change not only the life of the animal but also that of the adopter.

Additionally, the students highlighted the importance of fostering, a solution that allows providing a safe and loving home for an animal until it finds a permanent adoption.

The event was not just a moment for reflection but also an opportunity to understand how to help animals in need. Students contributed by collecting dog and cat food, blankets, litter, toys, and accessories, all of which were donated to the shelters managed by ENPA Vicenza.

This initiative demonstrated how even young students can become key players in making a change, spreading a message of empathy and responsibility. The collaboration between the MYP and PYP programs, together with the support of ENPA Vicenza, made the event an educational and inspiring experience for all participants.

As the organizers emphasized, every small gesture matters, whether through adoption, donations, volunteering, or simply spreading awareness, each action can help change the fate of many dogs and cats in search of a second chance.

This initiative demonstrates how passion and commitment can be transformed into valuable actions, inspiring young children to become responsible, animal welfare-conscious citizens.