In Partnership with Brooke East Africa
Kenya and Tanzania are home to over a million working donkeys — animals so essential to daily survival that entire families depend on them, yet among the most neglected on earth. In Kenya's semi-arid regions, donkeys carry water and firewood where no other transport exists. In agricultural areas, they move crops to market. In cities, they power small commerce. Despite being irreplaceable, they routinely suffer from untreated wounds, malnutrition, dehydration, hoof disease, and eye conditions — with growing pressure from the global donkey skin trade threatening entire populations. Brooke East Africa operates across 22 counties in Kenya, Somaliland, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Northern Uganda, with over 9,000 community members organized into 400 groups actively working to protect their animals. Through veterinary training, community development, and government engagement, this regional network is building welfare systems designed to last.
Donkey Care Clubs — Kenya & Tanzania
Lasting change begins with the youngest generation. Through Donkey Care Clubs, children learn — many for the first time — that their animals feel pain, need proper care, and deserve compassion. Using art, music, and hands-on learning, young people carry these lessons home, gradually shifting how entire families and communities treat their donkeys. In places where harmful practices have been passed down for generations, this is how the cycle begins to break. With expanded support, this program can reach more schools and more children — planting the seeds of a future where humane treatment is simply the norm.
Gold Mine Donkeys — Tanzania
In Tanzania's gold mining regions, donkeys haul heavy loads of jagged rock across steep, punishing terrain every single day. Wounds go untreated, injuries accumulate, and exhaustion is constant — yet these animals have historically had no access to care of any kind. Brooke USA is working directly in these communities, delivering immediate treatment and introducing practical welfare improvements to animals that have never been reached before. The goal is not just relief, but lasting change — equipping owners with the knowledge and tools to reduce suffering as part of their daily routine. With sustained support, this work can expand across more mines and more communities, bringing care into one of the harshest environments working animals face anywhere in the world.
Horses in Entertainment & Tourism — Kenya
For visitors, a beach ride or a horse at a local event can seem like a moment of joy. For the animals involved, the reality is often very different. Horses and ponies used in Kenya's tourism industry are frequently overworked, underfed, and living with unaddressed pain — their suffering hidden in plain sight. This Brooke USA-led initiative is tackling a growing and largely overlooked welfare crisis, working to raise standards, educate owners, and promote responsible practices across the industry. With greater support, this program can help ensure that every horse serving Kenya's tourism sector is treated with the dignity and care they deserve.