Learning in the digital era: Empowering vets in developing countries
Brooke's app is already being recommended to university students.
For many veterinary professionals working in low- and middle-income countries, access to up-to-date training and specialist resources can be limited by cost, connectivity and geography.
Brooke has launched a free, globally accessible app designed to remove those barriers and help transform the care of working animals worldwide.
Developed by Brooke’s international equine welfare experts, the Academy for Working Equids (AWE) offers practical, welfare-focused courses covering equine health, behaviour and clinical care, alongside specialised modules supported by UK Aid and The Fleming Fund.
The app is designed primarily for vets and paravets (community animal health workers without veterinary degrees), while also supporting animal welfare and sustainable development organisations working at the front line of animal care.
Working horses, donkeys and mules are essential to millions of families, particularly in developing countries, where animals are often relied upon for transport, agriculture and income generation.
Developed by Brooke's experts, the app offers practical, welfare-focused courses to boost working animal knowledge.
Yet the paravets who support these communities frequently work in challenging conditions, with limited opportunities for continuing professional development.
By offering high-quality learning free of charge and accessible on mobile devices, the app aims to level the playing field for animal health professionals, wherever they are in the world.
For Dr Faiza Riaz, a veterinarian in Pakistan, AWE has become a practical companion in daily practice. Working with horses, donkeys, and mules, she applies the Academy’s courses to improve both clinical care and welfare outcomes.
“These courses helped me interpret subtle cues, make more accurate clinical decisions, and handle animals more empathetically and effectively,” she said.
The platform has also helped close the gender gap in veterinary learning, giving female vets equal opportunities to build skills and confidence in the field.
At an institutional level, the platform is helping to shape the next generation of vets. Dr Ahmed Nawaz Tunio, Professor and Chairman at Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam, has begun recommending the Academy to students who may go on to work in resource-limited settings.
“Free, international-standard learning resources like this are vital for building capacity in veterinary education."
“The Academy strengthens students’ skills in animal health management, with a strong welfare focus on horses, donkeys and mules that families depend on for their livelihoods.”
For many users, the biggest shift has been in mindset. Dr Sharjeel Ali Dayo, a private veterinary doctor in Karachi, described how the Academy changed his approach to everyday practice.
“The platform helped me focus on prevention, not just treatment.
“That means healthier equids, fewer repeat cases, and better outcomes for the animals and the families who rely on them.”
The app is also helping close the gender gap in veterinary learning.
Dr Laura Skippen, Brooke’s Head of Animal Health and Welfare, said: “Brooke’s mission is to give working horses, donkeys and mules a life worth living, but this cannot be done without spreading knowledge and skills as widely as possible.
"Improving access to training will help them (vets) offer better advice to owners, who in turn can better support their animals."
"We hope to inspire a new generation of animal welfare advocates who have the confidence to treat working equids and promote their importance.”
Brooke hopes the app will help close the training gap faced by vets in developing countries, building a new generation of confident, compassionate practitioners.
Sign up to The Academy for Working Equids at awe.thebrooke.org.