A workshop at the CRAS – Wildlife Rescue Centre of the Lake Vico Nature Reserve was one of the key moments of the project “Caring for the Earth is Caring for Life”, carried out by Navdanya International. The programme focused on care as a responsibility towards every living being, and on the relationship between humans, animals, and the environment.

Starting from the questions that emerged in the classroom and from a strong sense of empathy towards animals, the students chose to focus on local wildlife, driven by the desire to understand how wild animals live, what risks they face because of human activities, and what concrete actions we can take to protect them.

The workshop offered an opportunity to discover the centre’s work first-hand: how injured or distressed animals are received, the paths of care and rehabilitation they follow, and, when possible, their return to the wild. Through the CRAS staff’s explanations and a practical workshop, the students met different species – in particular birds of prey such as barn owls – and learned about the most common causes that bring animals to the centre, such as road accidents, habitat loss, and interference from agriculture and urban development.

In the final part of the workshop, a collective reflection invited the participants to share their emotions and thoughts about the experience. Their feedback highlighted surprise, curiosity, a strong sense of responsibility, and the desire to contribute to safeguarding local wildlife, recognising the importance of everyday actions and greater awareness.

Within “Caring for the Earth is Caring for Life”, the workshop at the CRAS translated the value of care into practice as a relationship with life in all its forms, fostering respect, attention, and responsibility towards the territory and the beings who inhabit it.