On the road to Mashreq Shams in Kasserine

One of the highlights of our project was the day we spent in Mashreq Shams treating the community donkeys. It was such a full experience we're breaking the description of the day into more than one post, primarily because we have a lot of pictures that tell the story. (click on photo to see full image)

The idea to work on donkeys in Mashreq Shams, Kasserine came about after participating in the school backpack distribution event:

https://www.facebook.com/mashraqashams

While handing out the backpacks, we saw there were many donkeys in the community and three donkey owners were very happy to receive our unplanned services.  Would it be possible to have a day to attend to just the donkeys? The answer from the community development group was yes. However, we all agreed we would have to plan carefully to have a positive outcome for the donkeys and the community.

The plans fell into place after our meeting with Dr. Ghalia Drissi, and multiple phone calls with Mohamed Amine Ben Jemaa (from the Mashreq Shams community development group). We began by gathering a crew to work with us. Jaber enlisted Dr. Emna Brour (the veterinarian who helped us in Tataouine) and Shadi Henchiri (senior veterinary student who is chairman of the animal welfare committee of the International Veterinary Student Association). Shadi managed the task to identify 4 veterinary students to help us (there were more that wanted to come). The director of the Sidi Thabet Veterinary School donated a truck and driver to transport the students.

We met with students at the veterinary school to tell them about the community event for donkeys

We had our extra tools from the local blacksmith, and our donated anti-parasitic and wound supplies from Medivet. Tricia and Shadi drafted a short questionnaire for the donkey owners to aim for collecting some basic background information. Amine contacted the community to estimate how many donkeys would show up to be treated. Tricia made felted wool samples (from raw sheep's fleece) to cover the rough nylon ropes that are used as halters and ankle hobbles.

The planning and the conversations continued for a few days; then we met at sunrise in Tunis on September 14 to caravan in two vehicles for the four hour drive to Kasserine.  We made good use of the travel time to fine tune our game plan.

Shadi listened carefully as Jaber laid out logistics while driving

Pit stops provided opportunities for team meeting time

The drive to Kasserine was filled with many working equines, especially ones pulling carts.

not sure if this pair was picking up or dropping off supplies, but they were moving fast

this colorful fellow was transporting water from a community cistern

and he had a drink from the cistern, too

a white pony carts a young man, woman and baby towards a town marketplace

children cart fresh cut stalks for livestock forage

this equine looked like pony mule

All along the way,  we saw grazing donkeys, sheep and cows scouring the dry landscape for feed.



Tricia was thrilled to purchase a typical rope halter from a roadside vendor (who declined to have his picture taken). She put her handmade felted wool cover over the section that sets behind the ears where it often causes rope burn wounds and she was delighted to have a complete sample to show the community.

premade rope halters purchased in the city, sold in the countryside

As we got closer to Mashreq Shams, we passed by Roman Ruins in Sbeitla. Check out future post for details of this historical area which we visited at the end of the day.

treasures in the fields of Sbeitla

We made a final stop for bottled water as we saw we were almost to our destination and the water in the community is not particularly drinkable. The village's source of water is a distant well and water is transported to a cistern via a truck. The community has had health problems mainly due to the particulate matter in the water. The stop gave us time for one last team check-in before we meet the donkeys of Mashreq Shams.

stocking up on bottled water for a long day in the heat

We wondered how many donkey owners would show up and if the donkeys would be amenable to being worked on. But more importantly, we questioned how the owners would receive the offer of outsiders wanting to provide care for their donkeys, but not their more valuable sheep.