Naturewatch Foundation Announces World Animal Day Grant Winners for 2024
Gloucestershire, United Kingdom – On Monday, September 2nd, 2024, Naturewatch Foundation announced the recipients of its highly competitive 2024 World Animal Day Grant. The grant, which provides funding for critical animal welfare projects, was awarded to two deserving organizations: Ocean Acres Animal Sanctuary in Barbados and the Sudanese Animal Care and Environmental Protection Organisation.
After receiving numerous applications, Naturewatch Foundation chose these two organizations based on the expected impact of their projects. Sarah Carr, CEO of Naturewatch Foundation, stated, “Our 2024 grant winners are both highly deserving of this year’s grant, striving to always create positive change for animals in difficult circumstances.”
The main grant of £8,718 was awarded to Ocean Acres Animal Sanctuary, located in St. John, Barbados. This organization focuses on rescuing and rehoming abused and abandoned animals, as well as addressing the root causes of neglect in the community. The grant will support initiatives such as stray population control through monthly spay and neuter sessions, providing care for injured and neglected animals until they are ready for adoption, and conducting workshops and educational sessions to promote responsible animal care.
Karen Whittaker, Founder of Ocean Acres and World Animal Day ambassador, expressed her gratitude for being chosen for the grant, stating, “We feel incredibly honoured and excited to be chosen for the Naturewatch Foundation, World Animal Day grant. Our ongoing mission is to enhance the well-being of abandoned, neglected, and stray dogs and cats in Barbados. Receiving recognition from the World Animal Day HQ is truly heartening and this grant will greatly bolster our initiatives to create a positive impact on the community.”
In addition to the main grant, a mini-grant of £1,500 was awarded to the Sudanese Animal Care and Environmental Protection Organisation. This project focuses on providing essential vaccinations and education to donkeys, horses, and dogs who have been displaced by the ongoing civil war in Sudan. Mustafa Bakrawi, the World Animal Day ambassador in Sudan, highlighted the worsening conditions for animals due to the conflict and expressed his hope that this project will alleviate suffering and improve animal welfare.
Naturewatch Foundation, a UK-based charity and the coordinators of World Animal Day, expressed their gratitude to their supporters for making the grant possible. Sarah Carr added, “The difficult decision to pick just a couple of winners reflects the strength of the applications received and therefore the need for financial support for animals globally. We are very grateful to be able to offer the World Animal Day grant to bolster important work and to our supporters who make this possible.”
For more information on the World Animal Day Grant and other initiatives by Naturewatch Foundation, please visit their website at www.naturewatch.org.
