I can actually remember the post that first inspired me to start vegan kids. It really struck a chord. It was about a vegan child who had been bullied at school and no children wanted to go to their party. It made me feel really sad because I knew what that was like having suffered bullying myself at school.
I looked at my own children and saw that while they weren’t being bullied. There were definitely times when they were being left out, not included, and even teased.
I didn’t want my Children or in fact any one’s children, growing up and feeling different just because they were vegan.
I wanted them to know that there are lots of other vegan children, children like them. I wanted to tackle the non-inclusive world that some vegan children were growing up in.
But one thing I didn’t really expect was that when I began campaigning for inclusion, Creating experiences for vegan children to make friends and have fun. Was the anti vegan rhetoric, people telling me I was indoctrinating children.
It’s not something that’s talked about enough. That vegan business owners and campaigners have to face, along with all the other struggles business owners contend with. Bullying, abuse and discrimination simply for trying to make the world a better place.
It feels somehow ironic that I started vegan kids, because I wanted to take a stand against bullying, discrimination and abuse, and now I’m having to deal with that very issue because of my business.
If nothing else it just shows how important the work I and others are doing is.
Our very first vegan kids festival in 2019 was cancelled due to vegan prejudiced blackmailing the landowner giving him no choice but to cancel the event.
I felt pretty deflated after that but my mission and belief was still strong.
And here we are some three years later, and vegan kids is growing stronger each day but with that attracts more vegan prejudice.
I find it sad that as Vegans we have to put up with these prejudices, I’m fairly sure every vegan has experienced some form of it. But here’s the thing: we are not vegan for ourselves, we do this for the animals and no amount of hurt, distraction or annoyance will stop me or others on our mission.
I’m in this for the long haul, and I’m building up my strength to stand up for myself and others, when we face these hurtful comments.
Having said all this, when I put a call out for help, the vegan community wrapped their arms around me and lifted me up – showing me just how awesome Vegans are.