At Dog School, children gain a sense of achievement
In South Africa, the Funda Nenja program teaches children dog training and care, fostering responsibility, confidence, and a sense of achievement through their bond with dogs.
Background
- **Funda Nenja** (isiZulu for "Learn with Dog") is a community program based in the Imizamo Yethu township near Cape Town, South Africa. It combines dog training with youth development for children aged 8–18.
- The program teaches children humane animal care and basic obedience training for their dogs, many of which are strays or untrained. In exchange, kids earn a leadership certificate and a sense of responsibility.
- **Imizamo Yethu** is a densely populated, underserved settlement with high unemployment and crime. Dogs in such townships are often seen as dangerous or neglected; Funda Nenja reframes them as companions and tools for personal growth.
- The program has been running since the early 2000s and has been profiled internationally as a model for low-cost, community-based animal welfare and youth empowerment. It shows how animal programs can improve social cohesion and children's self-worth in marginalized communities.