The Freedom Farm Sanctuary was established with the aim of bringing people and animals saved from the food industries together. As part of our activities, we are happy to integrate special populations in the farm. We emphasize long-term plans with continuity. From our experience, this is the way in which the animals and the people who come to the farm, benefit from in the best possible way.
In February 2019, we started a project in cooperation with a hostel for young adults with autism at the farm. Once in every two weeks, the residents of the hostel come to volunteer with the animals and take care of them in order to expose them to a new environment and teach them about independence, care and concern for others and empathy.
Gradually, the hostel residents learn to care for the animals, cut them salad for dinner, arrange their bedrooms and help with whatever else needed. The meeting between the residents of the hostel and the residents of the farm is exciting and meaningful. The residents of the hostel identify with the personal stories of the animals and were happy to arrive regularly to the farm. The animals’ environment is good for them and in this environment they manage to overcome the difficulties they experience in different situations.
At this stage it is not possible to conduct one-time tours for special groups, based on the understanding that people with special needs, need mediation, adjustment time and long exposure in order to get to know the place and its activities.
