Tracey Keenan is co-founder of “Peanuts Funny Farm”: a non-profit organisation with a unique method of approaching the issues of disadvantaged children and neglected and abused animals. Rather then seeing these issues as mutually exclusive, Keenan has created a space where the interaction between both animals and children leads to healing and a brighter outlook on life.
How does “Peanuts Funny Farm” allow you to take action against the issues you care about?
By providing refuge to as many unwanted, neglected and abused animals as possible we help give them a new start. On the weekends we share the farm with underprivileged children who find comfort and love in their interaction with the animals as well as learn how to care for them. In their own way the animals are also caring for the children.
Why did you get involved in working with disadvantaged children and neglected and abandoned animals?
My mother fostered children when I was little and we always had an abundance of abandoned animals including a number of horses. I noticed that when the children had lost all trust in adults and would not communicate with the social workers, they would always find it easier to talk to the animals as they trusted them and saw in them a kind of confidante. This has always been in the back of my mind. We see the change in children that come to Peanuts Funny Farm. They have a place where they can be themselves and form a bond with the animals who in a way need comfort just as much as they do.
What would you like to achieve with “Peanuts Funny Farm” (i.e. goals, aspirations, how many children/animals would you like to help)?
We have created a safe haven for both animals and children. Our goal is to help as many animals and children as possible. Through their quality time spent interacting, we hope both can learn to trust and love each other and see very clearly that they do matter and have a special place in the world.
What are some of the barriers you have faced in launching “Peanuts Funny Farm”?
Like all charities, money is always a problem. My husband and I really believe in this idea and therefore work full time to self-fund Peanuts Funny Farm.
How have you attempted to overcome these barriers?
We are hoping that people will recognize what we are trying to achieve and also believe in it. It is through the support of such people that we will continue to grow and achieve the goals we set out to attain.
What are some of the positive outcomes that you have experienced through your work with “Peanuts Funny Farm”?
We have had a lot of positive outcomes. With all the animals that have come from abused homes, it is so rewarding to see them come out of their shell. We have a number of children come to the farm and it’s great when you hear back that a child who is experiencing a lot of problems, all of a sudden is happy and doing well. Nothing for us is more rewarding then the smile on children’s faces when they bond with an animal on the farm (e.g. ride a horse for the first time or their laughter when they watch Piggy eat his dinner). A lot of children that come to us have never had the experience of going to a farm and we have not had one child that has not benefited or loved the experience. We have had children who had been heading down a rocky path in both their family and school life and who have benefited greatly from their experiences at on the farm. We believe that it builds confidence in the children-the knowledge that they are needed by these animals can be life changing for young disadvantaged individuals whose sense of purpose in life may have been dulled due to neglect or abuse.
