KernAktuell September 2018, News

Social commitment

Gaining valuable life experience with the help of animals

For the sixth time, Estyria is helping children from the Weiz region to enjoy a week’s holiday on the animal-assisted therapy farm “Guat leb´n” in Leska. Working regularly with the animals teaches the children that they do not only have rights in life but also responsibilities.

Even before breakfast, the children have to feed and look after the animals. Punctually at feeding time, the pig, sheep, donkey etc. are ready and waiting for their tasty food. At the beginning, some children find it hard to think first about other creatures and only then about themselves. However, after a short time, they are all happy to take responsibility for the animals and then there is no stopping them when it comes to feeding them, giving them water and cleaning out the stables. Every day the animals thank them with happy cries as the children approach, snuggling up to them, playing and having fun.


Even before breakfast, the children have to feed and look after the animals. Punctually at feeding time, the pig, sheep, donkey etc. are ready and waiting for their tasty food. At the beginning, some children find it hard to think first about other creatures and only then about themselves. However, after a short time, they are all happy to take responsibility for the animals and then there is no stopping them when it comes to feeding them, giving them water and cleaning out the stables. Every day the animals thank them with happy cries as the children approach, snuggling up to them, playing and having fun.

With the help of the team of supervisors led by Dr. Walburga Siebenhofer and Hans Brückler, the children start to work together and enjoy their time with the animals, for example rolling up the carpet with pot-bellied pig Gorbachev or going for a walk with the donkey Mirko. At the sheep racing, the children learn to be alert and pay attention, to communicate with one another and show consideration. During this week, the children not only strike up new relationships with the animals but also with each other and so they improve their social skills – some sound friendships have begun during weeks like this.

That is why Estyria believes it is so important to support this project. The children gain important life experience from their week’s holiday and also make new friends. The feedback is very important for the organisation and for Estyria in carrying on with the project – parents and teachers report that, for many of the children, this week spent with animals brought about lasting changes in their everyday behaviour.

Find out more about the organisation “Guat leb´n” here!

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