Kenya: Honoring Animals

Global Ecovillage Network
  • July 18, 2016

We believe that all animals deserve respect and protection. Saint Francis of Assisi taught that animals are our brothers and sisters. With this understanding, we do not discriminate by artificial designations of what animal is a “pet” and what animal is “food.” To us, all animals are family.

The Organic Technology Extension and Promotion of Initiative Center (OTEPIC) is a community-based organization born out of a passion for sharing knowledge and innovative approaches with those who need it most: subsistence farmers and women and youth groups in the Trans-Nzoia district of northwestern Kenya and its surrounding areas.

The OTEPIC Peace Ecovillage was founded in 2008. It teaches individuals, groups, and committees to use permaculture as an alternative way of gaining food security and conserving nature and biodiversity.

Animal Humane Education

We believe that all animals deserve respect and protection. Saint Francis of Assisi taught that animals are our brothers and sisters. With this understanding, we do not discriminate by artificial designations of what animal is a “pet” and what animal is “food.” To us, all animals are family.

OTEPIC has begun educating people about why and how we have to respect animals. We do this through our actions, by showing how beautiful they are and how similar they are to us.

We believe that humanity has lost our connection with animals and can now only see them as objects. But once people connect with animals again, even farm animals, by hugging them and spending time with them in a natural and peaceful environment, they come away happier and with a fresh perspective on life.

Animals are just like us: they want love, peace, freedom, respect, and friendship.
They can also be good partners in permaculture communities.

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