About
Sentient
/sĕn′shənt, -shē-ənt, -tē-ənt/
adjective
able to feel, perceive, or experience subjectively.
We work to improve the welfare of ducks and other farmed animals in Vietnam
Our mission
To enhance the welfare of farmed animals by enabling producers to implement kinder practices and garnering support from corporations and government institutions.
Our vision
To minimise the suffering of ducks and other animals raised for food for as long as animal agriculture exists.
“The question is not, Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? but, Can they suffer? ”
Jeremy Bentham
Why sentience matters
Sentient beings can experience emotions like pleasure, happiness, pain, fear, and suffering. We humans have all felt these emotions and understand that others around us can suffer too.
This capacity for feeling isn't limited to humans—we understand that our dogs and cats are also sentient and deserving of respect and care. Like us, they should enjoy basic freedoms and be protected from unnecessary pain and suffering.
Many other animals, including those we raise for food, share this same capacity for feeling. Chickens, ducks, cows, and fish all have individual experiences and emotions, yet they're increasingly treated as mere commodities. Recognising their sentience compels us to minimise the harm we cause them.
Our organisation
We are a Welfare Matters-incubated initiative. As a local initiative, we are uniquely positioned to create impact in this crucial region where international organisations have often struggled to establish projects.
Tra My Nguyen
Co-founder & Managing Director
With a background in wildlife conservation and 6 years of project management experience, My brings valuable expertise to the team. Her diverse experience in operations and communications within Vietnamese and international NGOs, combined with her proven track record of working with local communities, youth, and volunteers, enables her to build meaningful relationships and drive impactful initiatives for animal welfare. As Managing Director, she oversees business and field operations as well as task management.
Shreya Basu
Co-founder & Executive Director
With a Master’s in Engineering and experience in planning technical projects, Shreya brings strong analytical capabilities to our team. As a Fellow from the Southeast Asia Farm Animal Welfare Fellowship and a member of the Effective Altruism community, she combines her analytical skills with an understanding of animal welfare issues. Her research skills also help us develop evidence-based strategies. She is primarily responsible for strategy development and execution, plus research and impact monitoring.
Hang (Kate) Tran
Co-founder & Program Director
With a veterinary background and extensive experience in organisational management, including HR, PR, and communications, Hang brings crucial expertise to our team. Her experience working with government bodies and the Vietnam Animal Welfare Association, coupled with strong industry-wide connections, enables us to effectively navigate partnerships and build meaningful relationships within the sector. Hang leads all program-related activities including outreach, stakeholder engagement and program development.