Collective Short-Term Mobility: Social Movements in Advancing Urban Animal Welfare

This five-day intensive course explored the complex intersection of urban life and animal rights, placing a spotlight on the role of social movements in advocating for the welfare of stray animals in cities. Participants examined the societal implications of urban stray populations, gaining insights through lectures, discussions, field trips, and workshops.  The event was coordinated by Staņislavs Šeiko, lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, in collaboration with the FORTHEM UL office. 

The participants of the programme were given an introductory quiz about the University of Latvia and Latvia, as well as an informative session about the FORTHEM Buddy Programme led by representatives of the FORTHEM office, lectures on the topics ‘Animal in the City’, ‘Social Movements as the Voice of Global Justice’, "Animal Rights Advocacy: The Power of Collective Struggles‘, ’Theory of Change and Evidence-Based Initiative Development‘, workshops on building evidence-based social justice initiatives and analysing global and local challenges in urban animal welfare - ’Theory of Change and Evidence-Based Initiative Development‘ and ’Global and Local Challenges in Urban Animal Welfare", as well as idea generation for possible public projects.

Participants of the programme went on field visits to various institutions and NGOs, such as the REMI shelter of the Cat Assistance Centre, the Latvian Veterinary Society, the Latvian University of Biosciences and Technology, etc. A tour of the Old Town of Riga was also organised to familiarise the guests with Latvia and Riga.

The students appreciated the programme very much - it was exciting and balanced. "The course was inspiring and provided many insights. I really enjoyed the discussions and debates as they challenged us to think, not just listen. The project work and the framework offered was educational and will definitely be useful both in school and in future working life. Now I feel more motivated to work on my academic goals because the topics were inspiring and thought-provoking," says a participant. Another student wrote: "I really enjoyed learning about the treatment of animals and animal protection laws in Latvia and other countries represented by the students. It was an eye-opening experience and broadened my horizons. I hope to use this knowledge in future projects to promote the importance of animals."

The program fostered interdisciplinary dialogue and empowered participants to envision socially impactful solutions for urban animal welfare. It exemplifies the collaborative and critical spirit of the FORTHEM Alliance and the University of Latvia’s commitment to social engagement through education.