At VegaVriend, you can collect reward points with every order. Eventually, you can redeem these points for a donation to three causes we’ve selected. You can read how it works here.

We’d like to highlight our chosen causes in a blog post. In this post, we’ll tell you more about Stichting Ongehoord. Read on!

In 2011, a group of students decided to expose the Dutch pig farming industry. They filmed in nearly thirty pigsties, and the footage caused an uproar. Since then, Ongehoord has filmed in almost all types of livestock farming – from rabbits to ducks, from minks to deer – both in the Netherlands and Belgium. They have worked undercover in slaughterhouses and set up hidden cameras in collection centers. Additionally, the foundation conducts extensive literature research and requests inspection documents. In recent years, they have frequently exposed misconduct within the Beter Leven certification system.

Stichting Ongehoord aims to collect and spread honest information about the way animals are treated in Dutch and Belgian livestock farming. They believe that no discussion can take place without accurate facts. The goal of Stichting Ongehoord is the complete abolition of the animal industry.

Many of the individuals behind Stichting Ongehoord work undercover. Their privacy must be protected in order for them to continue their work.

The spokesperson for Stichting Ongehoord in the Netherlands is Johan Boonstra. In Belgium, this is Nadine Lucas.

“Because we have focused on documenting the most severe forms of animal abuse, there are many things that we, as Ongehoord volunteers, will probably never forget. Think of dying and screaming piglets, rabbits with open wounds, crazed minks, cows being beaten, and sows being kicked. But what really touches you is often something else. For example, when I saw the footage of rabbit insemination, it really affected me. Or sometimes you look an animal straight in the eyes and you see that it is contemplating who or what you are. Then those thousands of animals suddenly become individuals with whom you can feel an intense sympathy.”

“Research group Ongehoord is a volunteer organization. We have no office, no paid staff, and no overhead costs. All donations are fully used for field research, such as transport costs, new cameras, SD cards, as well as disposable overalls and gloves. At the moment, we are saving for a computer to edit videos.”

In addition to donating (reward points), you can also support Stichting Ongehoord in other ways.

Stichting Ongehoord is looking for volunteers to conduct more extensive research. For example, they need people who can:

-Conduct in-depth research
-Program and edit videos
-Have technical skills
-Have a scientific background
-Have knowledge of web development and/or social media
-Write texts

Do you recognize yourself in one or more of these points? Visit the Ongehoord website!