OIPA Bulgaria promotes kindness and respect for animals through an educational event for children

The initiative was organised in collaboration with the Stara Zagora Zoo, children’s author Iva Katsarova, Amabili Association, and OIPA Bulgaria, bringing together children and families for a day of learning, creativity and direct interaction with animals.

The event was inspired by the book “Chudo and Ved – Little Stories for Big Hearts” by Iva Katsarova, whose stories encourage young readers to develop compassion, kindness and respect for animals. Chudo and Ved, the real dogs who inspired the characters in the book, were also present during the event, giving children the opportunity to meet them in person.

Following the presentation and reading of the book, OIPA Bulgaria introduced participants to the international work of OIPA, explaining its global commitment to animal protection and the importance of advocating for stronger legislation and policies to safeguard animals.

A particular focus was placed on showing children what animal protection means in practice: from rescuing animals in need and providing them with appropriate care, to helping them find responsible and permanent homes.

Learning about animal protection through play

The initiative was mainly addressed to children and their parents, with the aim of introducing the principles of responsible animal care from an early age.

Through games and creative activities, children were encouraged to approach animal welfare in an engaging and accessible way. They could colour animal-themed drawings, create smiling dog origami and participate in the “Kindness Chart”, where each child could leave the imprint of their hand and write the name of an animal they cared about.

The presence of Chudo and Ved made the experience even more engaging, allowing the children to interact directly with the dogs through cuddles, play and affection while learning about respect and responsible behaviour towards animals.

Around 80 people actively participated in the activities, while approximately 500 visitors were present at the zoo throughout the day.

For OIPA Bulgaria, working with children is particularly important because attitudes towards animals begin to develop at a very young age. Educational initiatives such as this can help build a culture based on empathy and respect, teaching future generations that protecting animals is also part of our responsibility towards the world around us.

Supporting stray cats through the charity market

A charity market was also organised during the event to support animal protection activities. All funds raised will be used to finance the sterilisation of stray cats, contributing to the humane management of the local stray population.

The day combined education and solidarity, showing families how even simple actions can make a concrete difference for animals.

As the message shared during the event reminds us:

“Together, we make the world a better place to live.”