Regina lends a helping hand to animals in Tanzania

12-year-old Regina lives with her parents and two sisters in a remote region of Tanzania. Her family supports themselves through subsistence farming – raising livestock including cattle, sheep, goats and chickens. To help them with the difficult task of feeding and looking after so many animals, Regina’s family relies heavily on the support of their two trusty donkeys.  

Thanks to SPANA’s work with partner organisation, the Tanzania Animal Welfare Society (TAWESO), Regina is developing important knowledge about how to better care for her family’s donkeys and give them happier, healthier lives. SPANA works closely with animal welfare organisations like TAWESO, which are already known and trusted in their local communities. Through a specially designed curriculum of fun, interactive educational materials, SPANA provides TAWESO with the tools to train local teachers in humane welfare education.  

When Regina comes home from one of SPANA’s education classes, she is excited to share her new-found knowledge about animal husbandry with her parents and siblings. Through these classes, Regina is learning how to provide good care for her donkeys and ensure they have healthier, happier working lives. Regina learns about subjects like the importance of correct, comfortable harnessing and how to avoid problems by providing her donkeys with padded equipment. She is now aware of other basic donkey needs, such as proper food, shelter and humane treatment.