At CASPA, our education team is always looking for innovative ways to help young people re-engage with their education. One of our newest initiatives, the Happy Paws, Happy Hearts pilot program, is already making a meaningful impact.
The program partners with a local animal shelter to offer young people animal care training while weaving in the therapeutic and educational benefits of working with animals. Through this hands-on experience, participants learn valuable skills such as handling animals safely, grooming, providing proper nutrition, and recognising signs of illness or distress.
What makes Happy Paws, Happy Hearts unique is how it combines practical learning with opportunities to reconnect with education. Each young person creates a report based on their experience and shares it with classmates in their school environment. This not only reinforces their learning but also encourages them to feel more confident and connected to their education.
The pilot program’s early success demonstrates the power of using creative, research-backed strategies to engage and inspire young people. By helping them build skills, confidence, and a sense of purpose, Happy Paws, Happy Hearts offers more than just a lesson in animal care, it’s a pathway back to learning and growth.
As we collect outcomes data from the pilot phase, we’re excited to use these insights to secure funding to expand the program and support even more young people on their educational journeys.