Through Edgard & Cooper grant, the problem of bites from rabid dogs and deaths from rabies in Kasulu has so far decreased by approximately to 50% and TNVR project is still ongoing. The primary challenge that was facing Kasulu was the increasing incidence of dog bites, largely attributed to the presence of hunting dogs and inadequate education on responsible dog ownership specifically relied on traditional medicine, that challenge facing also Uvinza, Kibondo nd Buhigwe districts and other parts of the Kigoma region.Due to the presence of indigenous groups, notably the Bantu-speaking tribes, some cultures have been using traditional remedies alongside conventional medicines in the treatment of dog bites and act as anti-rabies vaccine. It is important to note that there is no strong scientific evidence to support the efficacy of traditional medicines in treating rabies. The most effective way to prevent rabies is through vaccination before exposure to the virus, and immediate medical treatment with post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) after a potential exposure to the virus. For examples, from January to March 35 children under 13 years old die from rabies, later, traditional medicines led Grace Mwajuma to lose all three children for rabies.

The programme has been reaching to hundreds of children at a time aiming to enhance their lives and safety through the development of bonds between children and their dogs.

Children always walk some distances to and from schools and they meet lots of dogs on the way and so they need to have a good understanding of their, behaviour and basic needs.
Thanks to Edgard & Cooper for supporting this programme.

PART TWO
THE FOLLOWING TOPICS COVERED – SCHOOL TNVR
OUTREACH;-

  1. Topic name: The five animal freedoms 2. Topic name: Dog and Cat ownership responsibilities (provision of food, water, shelter, medical care, comfort and love, exercises, mental stimulation).
  2. Topic name: Your dog and cat’s health and spotting issues e.g. Rabies disease and other diseases affecting human and dogs
  3. Topic name: Why neutering is so important?
  4. Topic name: Understanding your dog and cat’s behaviour.
  5. Topic name: Teaching your dog commands.
  6. Topic name: The sentience of animal.
  7. Topic name: How dogs and cats help us
  8. Topic name: Rabies prevention and education.
  9. Topic name: Animal cruelty and offenses against animals are punishable under Tanzania laws. Topic name: How to care for your dog;
  10. Topic name: How to communicate with your dog;
    12.Topic name: How to have fun with your dog.

Powered Up By
Edgard & Cooper

Community kitchen gardening has the potential to serve as a powerful platform for promoting vegan advocacy, as it not only addresses the practical aspects of access to plant-based produce but also fosters a sense of community and support for those interested in adopting a plant-based lifestyle. Through this project, The Vegan Society together with Voluntary Education and Relief Initiative for Tanzanian Society (VERITAS) capacitated over 245 individuals and empowered 68 individuals to make informed and sustainable choices about their food consumption, promoting the benefits of a plant-based diet for both individuals and the planet.

VERITAS is working tirelessly to make veganism an easily-adopted and widely-recognised approach to reducing animal suffering and environmental damage. We do so through peaceful and factual dialogue with individuals, organisations and businesses. The vision of VERITAS Vegan Campaign is to create a world where animals live free of human exploitation. The best way to help animals and to create this world is to promote veganism, and so the aim of VERITAS Vegan campaign was to move towards a world where:1. People accept the ethical basis of veganism. 2. People understand that vegan diets are healthful and nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits.3. Veganism is considered as being normal, appealing and acceptable.4. Eating and living vegan is easy and there are no real or perceived barriers to becoming veganThrough the support form The Pollination Project Foundation Voiceless: the animal protection institute , the campaign was reached in-schools, host community kitchen gardens, local government officials and corporate businesses about what veganism is, the benefits of veganism, its ethical basis and why it is a minimum standard of decency.

VERITAS through support from Lush Charity Pot UK conducted the project by having interview sessions with invited guests (Vegans) and (non-Vegans). This was in form of live discussions or sessions and surveys either in person or virtual depending on convenience and distance.Specific questionnaires were prepared for each activists in order to pin point every aspect.


Nutritionists and Dietitians were also invited at intervals to provide information on nutritional aspects of vegan diets.

After the training, for Vegan were required to answer the following questions.

•How will you explain veganism in your own term?
•​Who is a vegan?
•​What drove or inspired you to go vegan?
•​How long have you been a vegan?
•​How will you say you have benefited from veganism?
•​What have been your greatest challenges as a vegan and how did you overcome them.
•​In your own words how will you address any misconceptions you’ve come across overtime about veganism? etc

Campaigns Modal of Delivery. To achieve the campaign goals and objectives, participants from shared information concerning community health status, environment impact, animal rights and our planet in general. Participants shared their skills, experiences and knowledge through participatory presentations, questions and answers, group work, story telling and many more methods.

Campaigns Modal of Delivery To achieve the campaign goals and objectives, participants from shared information concerning community health status, environment impact, animal rights and our planet in general. Participants shared their skills, experiences and knowledge through participatory presentations, questions and answers, group work, story telling and many more methods.

The Vegan Society together with VERITAS we have been able to distribute 1,500 tree seedlings in 12 schools in Kasulu for the purpose of protecting the environment from climate change.

The reasons to stop eating animals. VERITAS printed and supplied 250 PCs of books to 8 schools for the children homework.

VERITAS is working on promoting plant-based foods advocacy in Tanzania. This is a recommendable effort towards improving the health and well-being of the local communities, as well as promoting sustainable environmental practices. The Vegan Society together with VERITAS we have been able to distribute 1,500 tree seedlings in 12 schools in Kasulu for the purpose of protecting the environment from climate change.

This is wonderful when The Vegan Society and VERITAS join together on Promoting plant-based lifestyle Camping in Tanzania. During the campaigns students discovered all the variety of food in the plant-based diet and had the opportunity to prepare and taste vegan soup (mushroom soup) and other different plant-based milks (sorgho, millet and peanuts) among the highlights. We also had a special focus on the mushroom that grow in Kasulu. The Campaign will go on for the rest of the year with other workshops in these schools and with a new Partner Environment and Animal Protection Alliance of Tanzania (EAPAT). Thanks The Vegan Society for the support and to you all for the great work we do in advocating on Mother Land!

The pupils were moved to discover the vegan lifestyle and know that there are rights for animals. They appreciate our commitment to upholding animal rights and prohibiting the consumption of products of animal origin. Many of them have promised to take a week as a trial consuming only plant-based products and afterward, they will advise their parents to follow in their footsteps given the necessity because animals deserve better. They also understood that a friend protects his friend and so animals being our friends, in no way can we consider harming them. Our slogan of the day is “let’s eat plant-based products in order to have a good life, have a clean conscience and live a long life”. Let us never give up doing what is good.

About of Animal advocacy work.

Our work focuses on campaigns and programs that protect animals from all forms of cruelty through promotion of plant based diets a strategy that will reduce the demand for increased animal farming especially in cages.

Under our project ‘Free the Hen’ our mission is to end the abuse of hens through cage farming that limits their inability to practice natural behaviors like nesting, exercising and dust bathing but are subjected to high levels of stress and frustration while in cages resulting in a higher incidence of metabolic disorders and severe frustration.

We do this through encouraging Tanzanians to opt for plant based diets to reduce commercial farming of hens in cages, a practice that’s not only good for the animals but human health and the planet.

We promote animal welfare education in communities and schools. And also work with relevant government agencies and departments to advocate for better policies and guidelines towards the improvement of animal well being.

Why ‘Free the Hen’ Project

Cages limit hens ability to practice natural behaviors like nesting, exercising and dust bathing but instead they are subjected to high levels of stress and frustration It should be known that caged hens may experience increased aggression, reduced bone strength, impaired foot conditions and higher feather loss.

Objectives

  1. To prevent cruelty to hens;
  2. To sensitize the public about the need
  3. To encourage respect for animals
  4. To sensitize the public about the conservation of all natures;
  5. To promote compassion towards for animals;
  6. To promote the Universal Declaration of the welfare of Animals Rights
  7. To promote veganism.

Project Mission:

A world where all hens are free to nest, exercise and dust bathe.

Let’s put our hands together, celebrate together for the sake of our own health, animals and environment sustainably.Happy plant based diet to everyone 🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🥦🥦💚🌽🧅🍠🥕🍈🍊🍍🍌🍅🍇🌶️🍆🧄🥗

VERITAS is working on promoting plant-based foods advocacy in Tanzania. This is a commendable effort towards improving the health and well-being of the local communities, as well as promoting sustainable food practices. By promoting the benefits of plant-based diets and launching initiatives like mushroom farms, VERITAS is empowering individuals to make informed choices about their food and nutrition.

This work has the potential to create a positive impact on the local communities, as well as contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly food system. It’s important to continue monitoring and evaluating the impact of these programs, as well as adapting and refining the approach as needed.

This will help to ensure that the efforts towards promoting plant-based foods advocacy in Tanzania are effective and sustainable in the long term.

Many thanks to our supporters
The Pollination Project
Voiceless: the animal protection institute

VERITAS is continuing in improving the welfare of companion pets (dogs and cats) around Kasulu Tanzania through a partnership with “Animal Kind International-AKI” through “TRAP-NEUTER-VACCINATE-RETURN APPROACH”, this is the only humane and sustainable solution to protect thousands of stray dogs and cats in Tanzania as whole, as stray dogs and cats is among of companion animal welfare issue in Tanzania, whereby higher number of these stray dogs and cats are commonly found roaming in the street randomly. The method which is used to control this population is Killing as means of controlling the overpopulation of stray companion animals, th method is usually not taking to account the welfare of dogs and cats at all, but is the only method which is practised frequently. Stray dogs and cats often live very hard and short lives, suffering from a lack of food, shelter, untreated illness, injuries, and sometimes deliberate abuse and of course, not only the welfare of these stray dogs and cats is compromised, but because they have been abandoned or born on the streets there are issues for humans too, Because they may lead to health risk to humans through the transmission of zoonotic diseases like;- (Rabies and Toxoplasmosis) or the contamination of the environment (through urine and faeces), and they may cause a public nuisance e.g. fighting and scavenging for food and also traffic accidents sometimes.

VERITAS team is super proud of the support from ANIMAL KIND INTERNATIONAL-AKI for supporting this work which have impacted so many dogs and cats out here not only these companions (dogs and cats) but also the community health as whole through Rabies vaccination to all Dogs and cats During this ongoing TNVR program which give our community assuarance of safety from Rabies since dogs and cats are vaccinated.

Many thanks to our partners Animal-Kind International

For the love of animals, Community-Humane Education-Free rabies vaccination and wound treatments, this is dedicated to our lovely friends in Kasulu . Thanks to Animal-Kind International for Joining with us.

People in this community truly care about their pets, and are grateful for the work VERITAS do in protecting them and their dogs from rabies. VERITAS continue to recommend application of multiple interventions against the disease by involving all the concerned stakeholders in selected rural and urban areas of the country where rabies is endemic. Also One Health approach is needed to convince policymakers to invest in rabies prevention and control on the national level. This multifaceted One Health control model will enhance the likelihood of achieving the goal of global rabies eradication by 2030.

Many thanks to our partners “Animal Kind International-AKI” for supporting this program

The targeted project beneficiaries were PSNs specifically people with disabilities who are able to be engaged in kitchen gardening activities.

The identified protection challenges in PSNs with disabilities includes discrimination in all levels (social, employment, economic and political), their rights and responsibilities are not understood, poor social interaction, unfriendly environment, they have difficulty moving around or using their hands or arms, they have difficulty seeing, hearing or speaking, they have difficulty learning new skills, remembering or concentrating and they behave differently to others in the community or have difficulty managing their mood.

International Disability Alliance together with VERITAS empowered over 200 PSNs with disabilities in Kitchen Gardening to improve livelihoods in Kasulu Town Council.

About the Vegan Festival

Why We Organize Tanzania Vegan Festival

The Vegan festival is aimed at creating awareness in people about environment, animal protection, health and veganism.

Annually over 100,000 lose their lives of non-communicable diseases which is 35% of the total annual deaths in the country, according to UNCDA. This Festival is in line with the Tanzania Ministry of Health objective; ‘focusing on prevention through creating awareness of the risk factors and advising people to adjust their lifestyles’, an objective aimed at advocating for health eating habits.

Vegan dietary habits are gaining more and more fans world over and several food festivals have been organized in this regard and they have attracted thousands of revelers, this is evidence that world over more and more people are appreciating this lifestyle.

Our aim is to introduce this plant-based diet to Tanzanians while avoiding all animal foods such as meat, dairy among others.

A vegan diet is richly diverse and comprises all kinds of fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, seeds, beans and pulses – all of which can be prepared in endless combinations that will ensure one is never bored with his/her meals. These range from curry to cake, pastries to pizzas made with the best plant ingredients.

The Festival provides a large scale event that allows vegans to celebrate in an atmosphere of music, cooking, and the very best vegan products. However, the Festival also recognizes and addresses the remaining and future issues that impact animal welfare, human health, and the environment.

Who is a Vegan

Vegans are humans who avoid exploiting animals for any purpose, with compassion being a key reason. Going vegan is a great opportunity to learn more about nutrition and cooking, and improve your diet.

This definitely means one won’t be consuming saturated fat from meat, milk and eggs, and will be avoiding processed meat, which the World Health Organization has classified as a leading cause of cancer.

Getting your nutrients from plant foods allows more room in your diet for health-promoting options. If you make smart choices, a vegan diet can be a really healthy way of eating. Vegans are always encouraged to also limit salt and eat plenty of whole grains, fruit, nuts, seeds and vegetables. These foods are packed full of beneficial fibre, vitamins and minerals.

Research has linked vegan diets to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and lower rates of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer.

The project aims to empower 300 PSNs with disabilities residing in urban wards of Mwilamvya, Kimobwa, Kumusenga and Murubona in Kasulu Town Council through a comprehensive kitchen gardening program (Plant-Based Advocacy to PSNs with disabilities). By providing training, resources, and support, we aim to enhance their skills, promote self-sufficiency, and improve their overall well-being. The project was implemented over a period of 12/4 months, and we achieved significant positive impact on the participants’ lives.

VERITAS is working on promoting plant-based foods advocacy in Tanzania. This is a commendable effort towards improving the health and well-being of the local communities, as well as promoting sustainable food practices. By promoting the benefits of plant-based diets and launching initiatives like mushroom farms, VERITAS is empowering individuals to make informed choices about their food and nutrition. This work has the potential to create a positive impact on the local communities, as well as contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly food system. It’s important to continue monitoring and evaluating the impact of these programs, as well as adapting and refining the approach as needed. This will help to ensure that the efforts towards promoting plant-based foods advocacy in Tanzania are effective and sustainable in the long term. Overall, VERITAS’s work towards promoting plant-based foods advocacy in Tanzania is an important step towards improving the health and well-being of the local communities, as well as promoting sustainable food practices

VERITAS is working hard on transitioning the community from industrial animal agriculture operations to raising crops for human consumption. By creating models of alternative economic opportunities, building solidarity with other movements, and shifting societal narratives to change culture through the following approaches.

Why Transformation?

Neither caged-free nor improving farmed fish welfare but the only way to help and save animals from suffering is TO GO VEGAN.

So far, VERITAS has trained over 3,000 livestock farmers in Kigoma region and among of them 255 (8.5%) livestock farmers have already transitioned to plant-based agriculture as means of income and foods. From the current two surveys conducted by VERITAS in the regions of Arusha, Manyara, Shinyanga and Tabora, the results showed that, about 48.4% of farmers engaging in animal farming were ready to transform to plant-based agriculture, though they lacked access to plant-based agriculture trainings. By considering the need of farmers, VERITAS would like to capacitate the livestock farmers through education, sensitization awareness, stakeholders’ engagement, practical part by farming, and market initiatives in four regions where livestock keeping is high. Project target a total of 20,000 livestock farmers

Herd of goats with shepherd

With the grant from SPCA, VERITAS printed and distributed “MY Dog My Happiness,” a story activity book aimed at children with six years and over, that teaches about how to take care of a dogs even cats welfare also included.

The two Primary Schools that received books and trainings, thanks to the SPCA grant. Those primary schools are Mwenge and Mlimani.

The program with the team, has educated thousands of children about the importance of caring for our animals specifically Dogs and Cats as family members, and the grant has created School Youth Clubs per school visited for the project follow up and sustainability.

Actually most of people in our culture are concerned with protein intake especially from animal products, and in most cases the consumption of animal products among people is regarded as prestige. Community farmers are often exchanging plant based protein produce with animal products aiming at protein intake. Our efforts as VERITAS have been on creating more awareness on consuming plant based protein food, with an emphasis that they are healthically secure than animal products

The achievements of the VERITAS Vegan Tanzania’s campaigns are as follows:

Formulation of 25 Host Community Vegan Clubs (250 Vegan Actists): These clubs have been established to promote plant-based eating within the wider community. The clubs will work together to reach out to people in churches, mosques, and other gatherings to educate them on the benefits of plant-based diets.

Support from Ward Executive Officers (WEOs) and Village Executive Officers (VEOs): The WEOs and VEOs have been included in the important training sessions conducted by Veritas

So far, VERITAS has successfully reached 5 Primary School with a total over 1,300 students and teachers inclusively on the benefits of plant-based meal intake and shown the disadvantages of fatty foods intake like meat that cause several body health problems like Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, pressure, hearts problems and as well as cancer, etc.

The achievements of the VERITAS Secondary Schools Outreach Program are as follows:

Formulation of 10 Youth Clubs (100-vegan activists): These clubs have been established based on local content to promote the benefits of plant-based diets to other students. The aim is to create a culture of plant-based eating among in-school and out-school youth, who will then become ambassadors of the plant-based lifestyle in their communities.

So far, VERITAS has successfully reached 7 Primary School with a total over 2,500 pupils and teachers inclusively on the benefits of plant-based meal intake and shown the disadvantages of fatty foods intake like meat that cause several body health problems like Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, pressure, hearts problems and as well as cancer, etc.

The achievements of the VERITAS Primary Schools Outreach Program are as follows:

Formulation of 20 Youth Clubs (200-vegan activists): These clubs have been established based on local content to promote the benefits of plant-based diets to other pupils. The aim is to create a culture of plant-based eating among in-school and out-schools’ youth, who will then become ambassadors of the plant-based lifestyle in their communities.

This approach involves providing 100 chefs from 100 restaurants participants with practical skills and knowledge about vegan cooking and recipes. This includes cooking demonstrations, recipes sharing, and hands-on activities that help restaurant chefs and the community to learn how to cook delicious and nutritious plant-based meals. The aim is to make it easier for people to transition to a plant-based diet by providing them with the tools and knowledge they need to do so.

  1. Vegan Soup (Mushroom Soup)
  2. Vegan Meat (TOFU)
  3. Vegan Cake (Banana Cake)

The achievements of the VERITAS Chefs Vegan Training are as follows:

Formulation of 4 Chef Vegan Clubs (40-vegan activists): These clubs have been established based on local content to promote the benefits of plant-based diets to other restaurants. The aim is to create a culture of plant-based eating among customers, who will then become ambassadors of the plant-based lifestyle in their communities.

VERITAS hold 3-days plant-based foods advocacy at Kiganamo Health Centre where 650 pregnant and Breastfeeding Women attended the workshop. VERITAS Staff in collaboration with Community Health Workers (CHWs) from Kiganamo Health Center were trained the women on the benefits of plant-based foods intake as a body immune and cure to maternal and child health.

The achievements of the VERITAS Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women Vegan Training are as follows:

Formulation of 5 Women Vegan Clubs (50-vegan activists): These clubs have been established based on local content to promote the benefits of plant-based diets among Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women. The aim is to create a culture of plant-based eating among the girls and women, who will then become ambassadors of the plant-based lifestyle in their communities.

Animal deserve to be loved, respected, and properly cared for.Animal deserve to be loved, respected, and properly cared for. 
#We do this through: –
1.  Creating safe and loving environments, 
2.  Shelters where animals are rescued, cared for, and placed in loving homes. 
3.  Animal sanctuaries and wildlife conservation initiatives. 
4.  Rehabilitation services that give animals a second chance. 
5.  Advocacy efforts to end the cycle of animal cruelty.! 
6. Sterilization of dogs and cats

Villages along Lake Tanganyika on the north shore are among poorest areas in the poor region; they are entry points of refugees from Burundi and from DR Congo across the lake. Its environment is highly depleted due to over utilization of the forests for domestic use by both refugees and local people. Concerned villages are Kagunga – bordering Burundi, Zanshe next from the border, Kiziba, Bugamba and Mwamgongo bordering respectively.

VERITAS surpasses the target. The 29 nurseries raised 1,423,282 out of targeted 1,500,000 seedlings (95%) in a year from June 2018 to June 2019. That percentage has been achieved within the first half of the year. Out of 1,423,282 (100%) raoised seedlings, 1,359,361 (95%) were transplanted from the nurseries to local growers.

About the Vegan Restaurant Week.

The vegan restaurant week is a replica of Kasulu restaurant week, this time will be a Vegan food showcase by over 20 restaurants within and outside Kasulu showcasing the unique Vegan dishes on their daily menus.

The Vegan Restaurant Week is a great is a great opportunity for Kasulu’s finest restaurants to show off what they have to offer to Vegans in Tanzania.

The Vegan restaurant week is part of the build up activities towards the annual Vegan Festival that’s celebrated annually on 1st-Novemeber, which also doubles as world Vegan day.

This experience brings together restaurant owners, Chefs, nutritionists and thousands of people in an atmosphere that brings fun dining experiences for food lovers.

Ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine caused global economic depression as it was during the Global Economic Depression that began 1929 – 1939 and mostly suffering are women and girls. VERITAS empowered 100 women groups (1,000 individuals) in Kasulu on kitchen gardening for survival. VERITAS empowered group each with 5 acres of land whereby 2 acres for maze, 2 acres for beans and 1 acre for fruits and vegetables production, with all necessaries agricultural inputs such that fertilizers, hoes, lakes, organic manures, seeds as well as food security and marketing trainings.

VERITAS trained and equipped over 2,000 individuals on health and sanitation against the spread of Covid-19 in Kasulu from as well as empowered community on planting plots to developed livelihoods to respond food insecurity caused by lockdown (stay at home) means no production.

Access to vegan education on the benefits of vegan living for individuals, animals, and the planet through awareness programs, festivals, conferences, and events. This includes providing local activists with resources and assistance to organize result-oriented vegan festivals and conferences in their own communities.