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The people
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Meet our award-winning teams
| Every day our teams in the field are working hard to improve equine welfare, and help the people who rely on these animals for their livelihoods. Our community development teams work tirelessly to bring together animal owners and help them form ‘associations’ as we believe this will create long lasting changes to animal welfare.
Two teams have made remarkable progress. The Brooke has recognised the immense efforts of the Brooke Shashego Community Development Team and the Butajira Ghari Horse Owners Association by awarding them the titles of ‘Most Inspirational Community Development Team' and 'Most Improved Community' respectively in our first ever Excellence Awards.
Meet Agar, Samuel and Alemayehu from the Brooke Shashego team in a specially produced film in which they reveal their award-winning tactics, and watch Brooke ambassador Major Richard Waygood MBE present the Butajira Ghari Horse Owners Association with their award during a recent trip to Ethiopia.
Brooke Shashego team: the challenge… |
 |  | This energetic and optimistic Brooke team have played a pivotal role in the training of community animal health workers in the region. They are driven by common sense and courage as well as the determination to bring about change. |  | | Suzan Bishop, Country Director, Ethiopia | | |
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| Shashego is a remote district with a difficult terrain, a harsh climate and is vulnerable to drought. The health service and communication infrastructure is very poor and carts pulled by donkeys and horses are the only means of transport for the villagers. Overworking, wounds, a lack of shelter and feed are the main problems and as the dry season sets in and the grazing land shrinks, the horse owners have to depend on the feed they buy - and the price is soaring. |
 | | | The Brooke wanted to involve the community at all levels in helping them find their own solutions to the equine welfare problems. We encourage communities to form groups and associations and one such group is the Shashego Ghari Horse Association. |
| An update…
It took just a year for this association to be set up and a total of 200 Ghari horse owners have expressed a willingnessness to become members, and scores already signed up. Planned activities include:
• Enforcing traffic laws regarding loads and passengers
• Opening a feed shop
• Opening a garage to fix tyres and other cart parts
• Strengthening health prevention activities
Butajira Ghari Horse Owners Association: the challenge… |
| | The Butajira Ghari Horse Owners Association represents everything the Brooke stands for. The members are independent and ready to work out their own solutions which, in turn, improves the lives of their families and the welfare of their animals. | | | Suzan Bishop, Country Director, Ethiopia | | |
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| Owners of ghari horses in Butajira were facing numerous problems before they decided to organise themselves into an association. They were overworking and overloading their horses, which caused serious injuries for their animals. Butajira roads are not well maintained, with big holes and gorges causing further injuries. With no access to a veterinary service, owners used traditional practices to cure their animal's injuries making the situation worse.
Brooke steps in… |
 | | | After hearing about the problems experienced by the horse owners, the Brooke persuaded them to come together and form an association. After months of collaboration, finally horse owners formed a group. Together with the Brooke they identified key animal welfare related problems and how to resolve them.
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| An update…
Since forming in 2008, the association has made considerable progress:
• Implemented a law limiting passengers on a ghari from seven to three.
• Introduced a patrolling committee to fine anyone overloading their ghari.
• Started to fix holes and gorges on key roads.
• Started a saving and borrowing scheme.
• Opened a shop to sell feed and water for the animals at a lower price.
• Share information on treatment and vaccination programmes.
• Requested land to construct one-stop equine facility providing shelter, water etc |
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