Why Vegan?

This article shares the story of Connor, a young person who watched the 3-minute movie challenge and, through a compassionate conversation, decided to make powerful changes for animals. His experience reflects thousands of similar moments made possible through the work of We The Free and the support of our community. It also offers a transparent update on what we achieved together in 2025, the challenges ahead, and why closing our current funding gap is essential for reaching even more people in 2026. With a rare opportunity to have donations quadrupled, this article outlines both the urgency and the impact of giving right now.

James Hattersley explains how WTF grew from an all-volunteer passion project into a funded organization, and how that shift brought both relief and discomfort. As the work expanded, paying a small team became necessary to sustain the impact, but many team members initially struggled with shame or imposter syndrome around being paid in a movement built on sacrifice. The article argues that while money feels uncomfortable to talk about, it’s essential for long-term effectiveness. The movement is severely underfunded, overly reliant on a handful of wealthy donors, and vulnerable as a result. WTF calls for building grassroots financial independence, improving transparency, and treating sustainability as part of the work of creating a lasting, powerful movement.

This article shares We The Free’s origin story—from the early excitement of street outreach to the tough realization that many activists were burning out, facing hostility, and struggling within fragmented groups. A major global survey confirmed these problems and inspired a small team to build what the movement was missing: community support, effective training, and data-driven strategy. Despite early challenges that nearly stopped the project before it began, WTF pushed forward under renewed leadership and officially launched in 2021. Today, it has grown into a global network empowering thousands of activists to create meaningful change for animals.

Empowering younger generations in animal activism is key to building a compassionate, sustainable future. From grassroots movements to school programs incorporating humane education, young activists are leading the charge against speciesism and advocating for animal rights. This blog explores strategies to inspire and equip the next generation with the tools and knowledge needed to protect animals and reshape society for the better.