“Voices for Chickens: Improving Chicken Welfare in Arusha, Tanzania” is a volunteer-led initiative in Arusha, Tanzania, that empowers high school students to advocate for the compassionate treatment of chickens through observation, reflection, and creative public engagement.
Tanzania is home to over 87 million chickens (FAO, 2020), making them the country’s most commonly kept farmed animals. Yet their welfare is widely overlooked. Many suffer from poor housing, rough handling, lack of veterinary care, and inhumane slaughter. According to the 2019/20 National Sample Census of Agriculture, only 9.1% of livestock-keeping households received any form of extension or advisory services, leaving the vast majority without professional guidance (NSCA, 2020).
Our project addresses this gap through a three-phase approach:
1. Observation Phase – Agricultural students from the Livestock Training Agency (LITA) will observe the treatment of chickens in households, farms, and markets in their communities.
2. Reflection and Creative Development – Students will work in small groups to analyze what they’ve seen and create culturally relevant, low-cost proposals to improve chicken welfare.
3. Community Forum – Students will share their ideas with the public in a final event using speeches, posters, songs, or skits to raise awareness and encourage local dialogue.
To carry out “Voices for Chickens: Improving Chicken Welfare in Arusha, Tanzania,” we will follow a structured, three-phase process involving planning, student engagement, and public outreach over a period of approximately 6 to 8 weeks.
What are this project's goals? How will you achieve them?
The overall goal is to foster empathy, critical thinking, and leadership among future animal welfare professionals, so they can become long-term advocates for kinder treatment of chickens and inspire change from within their communities.
Project objectives:
1. Raise awareness among youth and communities about the sentience and suffering of chickens in everyday settings.
2. Equip agricultural students with tools to observe, reflect, and propose practical improvements in chicken welfare.
3. Promote public dialogue and empathy through student-led creative expression and community events.
Timeline and activities:
Phase 1 – Orientation and Preparation (Weeks 1–2)
The project will begin with our confirmed partner, the Livestock Training Agency (LITA) and their Animal Welfare Club, whose students will participate in all phases. Students will be introduced to the project’s goals and receive basic training on chicken welfare and ethical observation. Worksheets and visual tools will be provided to guide field observation.
Phase 2 – Observation and Group Reflection (Weeks 3–4)
Students will visit households, farms, and markets to observe how chickens are kept, handled, and slaughtered. Facilitated group discussions will help them reflect on their findings and identify key welfare challenges. Working in teams, they will design low-cost, culturally appropriate proposals to improve chicken welfare.
Phase 3 – Community Awareness Forum (Weeks 5–6)
Students will transform their ideas into creative presentations using posters, songs, skits, or public speeches. The community forum will take place in Arusha, with students presenting their proposals to an audience of farmers, educators, families, and local leaders. This event will serve as a powerful platform to raise awareness, generate dialogue, and inspire more compassionate treatment of chickens within everyday life.
NB. During the observation phase, they will be accompanied by our professional photographer and videomaker, who will document the realities they encounter in the community, how chickens are kept, treated, and perceived. A curated selection of these photographs will be displayed during the public event as part of an awareness exhibition.
100 printed posters and worksheets @ $1.50 = $150
10 large markers and art supplies @ $2.50 = $25
150 servings of snacks and tea @ $1.00 = $150
3 printed banners for the event @ $20 = $60
2 symbolic student prizes (books, certificates) @ $25 = $50
30 printed photo enlargements for exhibition @ $2 = $60
Misc. event materials (tape, paper, glue, display clips) = $5
Total Project Budget = $500
Who is on your team?
Voices for Animal Welfare is registered in both Europe and Africa, and committed to promoting animal welfare through law, science, art, and education. Today, VFAW connects volunteers, legal experts, veterinarians, photographers and educators across the globe to create a meaningful impact on animal welfare, while working tirelessly to build a brighter, safer future for animals worldwide.