Farm Animal Centre for Education, South Africa

Background

The Eastern Cape Province is home to many of the most impoverished, poorly-resourced communities in South Africa. A high rate of unemployment leads to acute levels of poverty, with an estimated 72 percent of the population living below the poverty line.

Donkey owners are among the most neglected groups of impoverished people in South Africa. They lack knowledge about the care and welfare of their donkeys, such as which carts and harnesses are suitable and how to manage the transport services to ensure a sustainable income. Donkeys are not highly valued in the local culture and therefore receive little in the way of respect.

The problems

The South African government has no programmes to educate, assist or monitor the treatment and care of working equines. State vets in the area do not deal with donkey health and welfare issues. Private veterinarians do not work in the township or villages, while none of the donkey owners can afford private veterinary consultations or treatment.

Main welfare problems include:

• overwork
• insufficient quality food, with underlying health issues
• dehydration
• overloading
• incorrect treatment of wounds with diesel or used car oil, or simply left untreated
• no parasite control
• poorly fitting harnesses, bridles and carts which cause injuries such as chafing, deep wounds, torn muscles, severe neck damage, thigh bone and pelvic fractures, and leg injuries/breakages
• a lack of understanding and empathy resulting in excessive whipping with leather and rubber straps and other forms of cruelty

What's happening now

In May 2015 Brooke began funding, through the Small Initiatives Fund, a 12-month project to educate, empower and mentor donkey owners to better care for their animals and improve their livelihoods.

Local organisation Farm Animal Centre for Education (FACE) has developed a training manual and appointed Working Donkey Champions (WDCs) in four villages. Selected on the basis of their compassion for donkeys, their leadership qualities and ability to engage the community, the WDCs set a positive example and implement education programmes. They also advise on basic veterinary care and generally improve attitudes towards working donkeys. The project has also introduced a new - and more suitable - donkey cart and harness to replace the existing ill-fitting equipment originally designed for oxen.

The WDCs - Patrick Ndyolashe (Grahamstown Township), Simon Kakalala (Peddle Power), Mr. Maki (Ndlambe) and Landile Matinisi (Crossman Village) - have studied and undergone several training sessions, becoming respected ambassadors for change within their communities who will continue to promote equine welfare for many years to come.