9 August 2024
Day in the life of a donkey care club student
I’m Ann, a student at Kitui Central Primary School in Kenya and proud member of the school’s donkey care club.
On International Youth Day (12 August 2024), we celebrate not only our achievements, but also the ongoing journey of learning and growth in animal welfare.
Kenyan school children learn about the importance of water, rest and shelter at donkey care clubs.
Tabitha, a student at Tulimani Primary School has learnt how to take care of her donkeys through a care club.
We now view donkeys as friends rather than as mere beasts of burden.
The Wednesday that defines our week
We eagerly anticipate Wednesday evenings at our donkey care club. On these days, 40 of us meet with our teacher Christine to discuss donkey welfare and the freedoms we should provide them with.
Through our discussions on animal freedoms, we write poems, create paintings, and design mosaics to educate others, including our fellow students, about the importance of animal welfare to prevent mistreatment.
Teacher Christine also writes poems that we perform at the Kenya Music Festivals. In the past two festivals, we have advanced to the national level but have yet to win. We are determined to secure a victory next year!
Donkey care club students are encouraged to plant treets to help the environment, animals and people.
We’ve learned the correct way to care for donkeys and are committed to treating them with respect.Â
The change we’ve seen
Before joining the club, many of us didn’t know how to properly care for donkeys, even though we had them at home.
We are taught about the importance of helping donkeys, including making sure they have enough food and water, access to veterinary care when they are sick, good shelters and space to move around.
We also ensure that we teach our parents what we learned in school, so our whole community can look after these animals who do so much for us.
We take part in protecting and improving our environment by planting trees, creating a better environment for both humans and animals.
As we celebrate International Youth Day, we, as the youth, are the change the world needs.Â
Young people are the change makers
To create a better world, we must be part of the change that is needed to give working animals a life worth living.
Our donkey care club is part of this change, as we push for a more compassionate world.
Happy International Youth Day!
Learn more about how Brooke’s donkey care clubs are inspiring the next generation of donkey owners to care for and protect their animals.