Kolkata: On Tuesday and Wednesday, CAPE Foundation conducted its annual Animal-Assisted Therapy and Humane Education programme for the nursery department of La Martiniere for Boys, creating two memorable mornings of learning, wonder and gentle interaction for the youngest students.Designed to introduce children to animals in a safe, supervised and age-appropriate setting, the programme encouraged curiosity, empathy and respect for living beings. Day one brought familiar companion animals into the classrooms, including CAPE’s therapy cat, two friendly dogs, three rabbits and two guinea pigs. The children observed them closely, learned how to approach them calmly, and experienced the joy of touching, feeding and engaging with them under careful guidance.Day two offered a rare farm-animal experience, especially meaningful for children growing up in the city. A horse, a goat, two ducks, a goose and a gander, two hens and a rooster visited the school, giving the children an opportunity to see these animals up close and understand more about their habits, needs and personalities.Through each interaction, the children learned that kindness must guide every encounter. They were encouraged to recognise when an animal needed space, to use gentle hands and quiet voices, and to see animals not as toys or distractions, but as sentient beings deserving care.La Martiniere Schools were among the first to embrace CAPE Foundation’s initiative and incorporate humane education into the curriculum, recognising that emotional learning is an essential part of a child’s development. The continued support of the school has helped make this annual programme a success.For many children, these simple moments of connection become lasting lessons in compassion, confidence and responsibility, shaping a kinder relationship with animals and the world around them each day.
