CAGE FREE MOVEMENT-2024
In 2024, Education for African Animal Welfare (EAAW) led the Cage-Free Movement, focusing on humane and sustainable poultry farming practices. Through workshops, training sessions, and community engagement, we emphasized our commitment to educating farmers on transitioning to cage-free systems. Our efforts resulted in healthier chickens and ethically produced poultry products, significantly improving animal welfare and farming standards across Tanzania.
EAAW CAGE FREE ACTIVITIES IN 2024
1:Commitments from Hospitality and poultry farmers
EAAW actively engaged with various hospitality companies, including hotels and bakeries, as well as farmers, to secure cage free commitments. Through regular meetings and awareness campaigns, we successfully secured four new commitments in 2024, bringing the total to six cage-free commitments in Tanzania.
Stay Cage-Free Campaign
In addition, EAAW launched the "Stay Cage-Free" campaign to encourage farmers who have adopted cage-free practices to remain committed and resist reverting to caged farming methods. This campaign has been instrumental in maintaining the progress we’ve achieved and ensuring a sustainable future for humane poultry farming.
The video above shows some farmers who have agreed to make a commitment to a cage-free system.
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​ 2:Cage-Free Workshops in 2024
In 2024, we conducted a series of impactful workshops aimed at promoting cage-free poultry farming. These sessions were attended by both caged chicken and cage-free farmers, media personnel from across the country, and government officials.
Our objectives were clear:
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For Farmers: We emphasized the benefits of the cage-free method of keeping chickens, providing practical knowledge and support for transitioning to humane practices.
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For Media Personnel: We guided media representatives on how to effectively report and write about the cage-free movement, ensuring accurate and compelling coverage.
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For Government Officials: We discussed policy and legislative changes required to support and promote cage-free farming across the country.
One amoung the EAAW cage free workshop held in Dar es laam, Tanzania
3, Awareness Campaign.
Throughout 2024, we intensified our efforts to raise awareness for the cage-free vs cage farming reaching an impressive audience of over 10 million people through various media platforms. We maximized the use of social media and ordinary media to spread our message far and wide.
We also focused on training media personnel from across the country on effective ways to communicating the cage-free movement's objectives. This training enabled them to deliver message more effectively to the general public. As a result, we received numerous inquiries from individuals interested in learning more about cage-free practices.
In addition to media outreach, we produced various awareness materials, such as leaflets and social media posters. Notably, in 2024, we created a compelling documentary titled "The Horror." This documentary had a tremendous impact, changing many farmers' perspectives on the cage-free system. It also played a significant role in convincing hospitality companies to commit to using cage-free products.
"The Horror" video has powerfully driven real change and supported various animal welfare activities across Africa in advocating for cage-free systems. A highlight of our efforts is the Uganda Vegan Society's testimony, which affirmed that the documentary helped inspire a commitment from a hotel in Uganda to adopt cage-free practices.
Our dedication and strategic approach in 2024 not only raised awareness but also fostered a shift in attitudes and practices towards a more humane and sustainable system.
The horror documentary expose the suffering chicken going through in cages
4, Research finding validation
In 2024, EAAW validated and published research findings on the status of battery cages in Tanzania. This crucial research was widely disseminated through various media outlets across the country. The objectives of the research included:
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Evaluating community awareness regarding animal welfare.
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Understanding the rapid proliferation of cage systems in Tanzania.
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Developing strategies to educate farmers and the general public about the negative impacts of cages on animal welfare, targeting both governmental and private sectors.
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Addressing additional issues highlighted in the accompanying video, which provides further insights into the challenges and opportunities for improving poultry farming practices in Tanzania.
5, Capacity Building in 2024
In 2024, EAAW strengthened its efforts by participating in various training programs that were instrumental in overcoming advocacy challenges:
i) Mission Motors Training: Our team participated virtually in this training, which was crucial in developing our first Theory of Change. This framework has guided us in strategically planning our advocacy for chicken welfare. The Theory of Change helps us to clearly define our goals, map out the steps needed to achieve those goals, and measure our progress along the way. It provides a structured approach to problem-solving and ensures that our advocacy efforts are focused and effective.
ii) OWA Africa Summit: The EAAW team attended the OWA Africa Summit in Machakos, Kenya. This summit provided a valuable platform for exchanging experiences with activists from across Africa. Engaging in discussions and sharing best practices enriched our understanding and approach to animal welfare advocacy. It also helped us build a stronger network and foster collaborative efforts across the continent.
iii) International Training at Cage-Free Innovation and Welfare Hub, Indonesia: This training allowed us to both theoretically and practically learn about the cage-free movement in Indonesia. It provided new insights into how to advance the movement in Tanzania. The training detailed approaches for engaging with corporations and emphasized the growing global importance of animal welfare. This experience, supported by Global Food Partners at the University of Gadjah Mada, equipped us with the knowledge and strategies to advocate more effectively for humane and sustainable farming practices in our country.
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