Animals
for People
Our goal is to develop comprehensive materials on therapy and education with different species of animals, including cats and farm animals. Through this project, we aim to provide guidelines for the good and effective use of animals in therapy and education, while also ensuring their welfare. We highlight the professional opportunities offered by working with animals in these fields.
Learn more
Our first product is a recommendation brochure that contains stories of people/organizations that have used animal therapy successfully. This brochure is beneficial not only for people who want to work in the profession, but also for potential employers who will be able to verify the training and competencies of the teams they hire. We believe that animal therapy can have a significant positive impact on individuals’ mental health and well-being. By promoting its use through our project, we hope to improve the quality of life for many people across different target groups. Thank you for your interest in Animals for People!
You can open the brochure by >>clicking here<<
The document contains link to videos that we prepared as a supplementary material to better visualize important concepts and show positive emotions in Animal Assisted Interventions work. Below you will find one of the videos.
Goals
The primary objectives of our innovative project are to enhance the rapidly growing sector of animal-assisted therapy within the European economy and to address the underinvestment in therapies involving animals other than dogs (e.g., cats, farm animals). We are committed to offering a comprehensive educational space for professionals who wish to gain wide-ranging knowledge and skills in Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI).
Our specific goals include:
Creating an Informative Brochure: Our first product will be an enlightening brochure detailing the potential of animals in therapy and education for various patients. The brochure will cover guidelines for effectively utilizing animals, ensuring their welfare, and outlining the professional opportunities that working with animals (especially cats and farm animals) offers.
Developing a Cat Behavior Test Protocol: This will allow the selection of suitable cats for further training and therapy work based on their sociability, bravery, and other necessary traits. The protocol will prioritize both patient safety and animal welfare.
Establishing a Felinotherapy Certification Course: An innovative product of our project, this certification course will empower individuals with the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to work with cats in various institutions. Importantly, the training and examination will be based on e-technology, making it accessible regardless of location.
Launching a Farm Animal Course: This introductory course will provide potential clients and farm owners with an understanding of the requirements for integrating farm animals into therapeutic processes. This course sets the stage for further education and certification of farms as “Green Farms” or therapeutic-educational farms.
Creating an E-Learning Platform: The project’s outputs will be consolidated on an accessible, modern e-learning platform. The platform will not only host materials from this project but also aggregate resources from our previous Erasmus Plus projects related to dog therapy.
Promoting Soft Skills: Through collaboration and exchange of experiences, we aim to enhance the competencies of trainers and participants, improve the market position of partner organizations, and strengthen international standards and procedures within organizations.
Post-project, we plan to continue to develop partnerships and a network of institutions that benefit from this type of certification and shared training. Our ultimate goal is to create a specialist and networking platform that fosters the growth of animal-assisted therapy in Europe.
Innovations
Our project stands as a pioneer in the realm of animal-assisted therapy and education, carving a unique path with its innovative approaches and offerings. Here’s why our project is groundbreaking:
Expanding the Range of Therapeutic Animals: While dogs have long been recognized for their therapeutic potential, our project expands this understanding, highlighting the therapeutic benefits of other animals, specifically cats and farm animals. This broadened focus empowers a larger range of animal-human interactions to foster healing and learning.
Innovative Cat Behavior Test Protocol: Our project pioneers a one-of-a-kind test protocol to assess feline behavior. This tool will enable professionals to identify cats best suited for therapeutic work, prioritizing the welfare of both animals and patients.
First Feline Assisted Intervention Certification Course: We are breaking new ground by developing the first-ever certification course for FAI. This comprehensive online course provides human-cat duo certification, bolstering the confidence of therapists and clients alike in the effectiveness of cat-assisted therapy.
Accessible Online Education: By leveraging e-technologies, we make education and certification in animal-assisted therapy accessible to a wide audience, regardless of geographic location. Our e-learning platform will host a variety of materials, including two comprehensive courses and resources from our previous projects.
Emphasizing “Green Farms”: Our project promotes the concept of “Green Farms” as therapeutic-educational farms. The farm animal course will guide farm owners and potential clients through the process of integrating farm animals into therapeutic processes, an innovative approach that harmonizes agricultural life with therapeutic work
Boosting International Collaboration: Our project aims to fortify international standards and enhance cross-border collaboration. By fostering a network of institutions and experts in animal-assisted therapy, we are contributing to the global evolution of these therapeutic methods.
In essence, our project is innovative because it pushes boundaries, broadens the scope of animal-assisted therapy, and leverages technology to democratize access to education and resources in this field. It’s not just about improving existing systems, but about creating entirely new avenues for therapeutic interaction between humans and animals.
Cooperation
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