FIAPO organised Bootcamp conference for animal rights activists in West India

Regional Bootcamp Conference is the first of its kind in India to train emerging animal right activists. About 80 animal right activists of various categories participated in the conference.

The animal protection movement in India is growing fast but is mostly un-organized, marked by a grave need for information, education and skill development in the sector. Keeping this need in mind, Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations organised Bootcamp conference this year in Ahmedabad for the west zone from 19-21 July 2019. The conference envisions to provide extensive skill training and professional hand to the emerging animal rights activists in India and provide the country with strong and organised leadership of animal rights activists, advocates and speakers.

The Bootcamp in Ahmedabad witnessed the attendance of about 80 participants, activists and speakers from west India.

The Regional Bootcamp Conference 2019 is India's only intensive skill development training for emerging leaders in the animal protection movement. Organised by the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO), this training offers an opportunity for hundreds of grassroots advocates and practitioners from across the country to get together under a common banner and connect, build and learn practical skills for being effective campaigners.

It is aimed at making the participants emerge with a variety of skill-sets to make them function not only singularly but also in a team. The participants will undergo training on developing effective leadership, networking and making/maintaining valuable contacts, running impactful campaigns, recruiting, maintaining and retaining volunteers and finally skills required for fundraising and finance.

Norma Alvares, FIAPO Chairperson believes that "We need to protect animals not because we are superior, but because we have taken their space."

According to Varda Mehrotra, Executive Director, FIAPO - "It will be a wonderful opportunity for so many people to come together under one roof. The purpose of these regional Bootcamp conferences is to be a platform for grassroots activists, practitioners and experts from across the country to get together under a common banner to network, discuss issues, share learnings and build a stronger community."

Post every training session, a practical task will be performed which will make the training group work with a real-life situation they face, which they should be able to overcome.

After the learning, the activists will continue to work with FIAPO on campaigns to apply their skills and grow to be powerful and talented leaders who will efficiently advocate for animals.

It is FIAPO's constant endeavour to organise such conferences from time-to-time to bring the community together in order to build a stronger voice for the animal rights movement in India and to make it a memorable learning experience for all.