Introducing the Donkey Project: Brooke USA Launches National Fundraising Campaign to help Distressed Donkeys Worldwide

We at Brooke USA are excited to announce a year-long campaign named “ The Donkey Project,” which seeks to raise an ambitious $1.5 million by June 30, 2024. “The Donkey Project” is intended to grow the organization’s depth of work while raising more funds in support of working donkeys and the people who depend on them for survival in vulnerable communities worldwide.

Brooke USA believes that their plight is preventable, and that good animal welfare protects human livelihoods. For 600 million people in some of the poorest places in the world, 100 million of these animals and other equines are the backbone of communities and their best means of making a living.

Without healthy working donkeys, people would not be able to put food on their tables, send their children to school or build better futures for themselves and their families. In summation, donkeys are essential to the livelihoods of people in developing countries.

“The Donkey Project” also aims to radically raise the profile of donkeys all over the world. With their latest popularity, thanks to the attention secured by recent movies and documentaries such as EO, The Banshees of Inisherin, Triangle of Sadness and Navalny, many are calling 2023 the year of the donkey with these stoic animals rightfully portrayed as intelligent and calm.

Without a doubt, history was made when a miniature donkey appeared on stage, side by side with Jimmy Kimmel, at the Academy Awards (Oscars) ceremony last March.

Donkeys are now also the focus of a new genetic study published in the journal Science on donkey genomics, led by Ludovic Orlando, Director of the Center for Anthropobiology and Genomics of Toulouse in France. He and researchers from 37 laboratories around the world analyzed the genomes of 207 modern donkeys, living in 31 countries.

“Honestly, it is about time that we recognize the bond between donkeys and humans; this co-dependency dates to the beginning of time when people first started relying on donkeys to help transport heavy loads and continues today in some of the most vulnerable communities worldwide as they serve as an important resource in the daily lives of millions of people throughout the world,” explained Emily Dulin, CEO of Brooke USA. “Despite their newfound fame, donkeys remain in peril and are threatened by the challenging environments in which they live and by their new-found value in the production of ejiao, a gelatin-like substance derived from boiling their hides and used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to treat infertility, poor circulation and lack of potency,” added Dulin.

“The success of this campaign will allow us to invest in programs across the globe and make a lasting impact in the lives of people and animals alike,” said Jim Hamilton, DVM, Chairman of the Board of Brooke USA. The campaign’s focal point is a bold appeal to donors and friends for support of 100,000 donkeys at $15 a year each. “Donors can directly affect the lives of one, 10 or 100 donkeys, it is completely up to them. A campaign of this magnitude is only possible through the loyalty of our donors and friends,” added Hamilton.

“The Donkey Project” is an example of how Brooke USA plans to contribute toward alleviating the suffering of hundreds of millions of people and animals today and tomorrow. Funding from this campaign will allow us to have a significant impact all over the world as we feature inspiring stories of those who depend on these animals every single day.

To learn more about “The Donkey Project”, please visit www.brookeusa.org/the-donkey-project.

Receives Coveted Nonprofit Designations

Reflecting its strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency, Brooke USA has secured a “Perfect 100” charity score and a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. Brooke USA also received Candid’s (previously GuideStar) coveted Gold Seal of Transparency. Candid is the world’s largest source of nonprofit data.

A four-star rating from Charity Navigator signifies that Brooke USA exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in a similar line of work. Moreover, Candid’s designation is only awarded to charities illustrating the highest level of responsible fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.

Upcoming Events

Thursday, September 7th – Our Bluegrass RAC hosts Bourbon, Brews and Bites in Lexington, KY.

Thursday, September 14th – Our Southern Pines RAC in NC will host a VIP reception, followed by the screening of the movie EO, at the Sunrise Theater. This masterful film depicts the tumultuous journey of EO, a donkey whose life is directly affected by the humans he encounters.

Thursday, October 19th – Our Foothills Advisory Council will host Divertimentos & Dressage (D&D) at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in NC. Now in its 4th year, D&D is an unique and exciting event that combines live orchestral music and freestyle dressage. The region’s best equestrians and horses will perform to the music of our very own Dorothy Brooke Orchestra.

Sunday, October 22nd – Brooke USA’s Aiken Regional Advisory Council will host its signature fundraiser, Ponies & Pearls, at New Bridge Polo and Country Club in SC. Now in its 3rd year, Ponies & Pearls celebrates women and their accomplishments, while raising funds in support of women’s groups in equine-dependent communities across the developing word.

Saturday, November 4th – Brooke USA’s Dallas/Ft. Worth Regional Advisory Council will host its first fundraiser. With a Western twist, this event will not fail as a real Texas barbecue cook-off is prepared, amazing equestrian demonstrations take place and great entertainment is in place.

If you are interested in joining one of Brooke USA’s Regional Advisory Councils or creating one in your hometown, be sure to contact Kim Shipp, Community Outreach Officer, at kim.shipp@brookeusa.org.

Update from Brooke Ethiopia

Recently, we wrote to you explaining the deteriorating situation in Ethiopia for working equines and the impoverished families who depend on them for survival, many of whom are on the brink of disaster.

We interviewed Yohannes Kassim, Director of Brooke Ethiopia, for an update on the current state-of-affairs.

Has the situation improved for equine owners?

The situation is not getting better for people who are already living in very harsh conditions and I would say that things are expected to continue to decline in the future. We, at Brooke Ethiopia, have made inroads to improve the welfare of working horses, donkeys and mules but these are only small steps toward mitigating the larger problem – one of poverty, lack of education and economic uncertainty. Right now, our work is more important than ever as healthy animals are the backbone of the equine owners’ livelihoods.

When your teams are out in the field, what is biggest problem you see?

As I said before, endemic poverty coupled with a sense of overall uncertainty, are tangible problems among all the kebeles (villages) we serve. Add to that a lack of knowledge about equine husbandry, including hoof care, nutrition and handling, and working donkeys are continually at risk and suffer immensely.

If you could look ahead five years, what impact would you like to see?

Without a doubt, our goal is to affect change in people’s attitudes toward their working donkey. We know that happy healthy donkeys are productive contributors to the financial wellbeing of the families they serve. It is a long-term commitment but one that we measure year-over-year. I cannot guarantee that this will take five years but we are certainly trying to make inroads one donkey at a time.

If there is one thing you would like our readers to know about Brooke Ethiopia, what would it be?

Brooke Ethiopia runs its programs in the country with the highest equine population (13.3 million) in Africa and the most donkeys in the world. The efforts made so far have brought positive changes in terms of transforming equine welfare legislative agenda and the strengthening of the animal health system in intervention areas. However; due to the limited capacity in terms of resources, we are only able to reach about 7% of the total population of equines. It requires a big effort to mobilize resources in order to change the lives of working equines in need in most parts of the country. We rely on the generosity of donors worldwide to help us meet our hefty goals.

Brooke USA Foundation is currently fundraising to support Brooke Ethiopia. To donate to our Ethiopia Fund, please visit www.brookeusa.org/wako or send in the enclosed pledge card.

Rani, a working mother, and a real superhero, featured in Achieve Equine’s “It’s About the Horse®” Horse of the Month

Rani, Horse of the Month

Laboring in some of the most extreme working environments on Earth, with uneven terrain, thick dust, very little shade, and high temperatures up to 122°F, Rani has been transporting bricks in and out of the brick kiln for the last 10 years. She is not only a hardworking mare but also a loving mother to her own foal and the foals of other co-working mares.

Families working in brick kilns depend entirely on their horses to make a living, under $2 a day for most. They are essential to the livelihoods of people. The families that own and rely on these animals are often in bonded labor and have little access to vets, farriers, or first aid.

The global kiln industry employs more than 16 million people and 500,000 animals and produces more than a fifth (21%) of the world’s bricks. Brooke USA Foundation funds welfare programs among 515 of Pakistan’s brick kilns, helping to improve conditions for families and their horses by helping local vets treat serious injuries and helping families improve their husbandry practices and awareness of animal welfare.

Brick kilns pollute the air and water, causing infection and respiratory diseases in animals and humans. In Pakistan, Brooke USA’s sister organization, Brooke: Action for Working Horses & Donkey is currently working to plant trees to address pollution and land degradation and provide shelter for working animals.

To check out Rani’s feature, visit: www.achieveequine.com/itsabout-the-horse/rani.