ANNUAL REPORT 2019
Jarjeer Mule and Donkey Refuge
DR Oumnass
Tameslohte
Morocco 40000
www.jarjeer.org
Email: contact@jarjeer.org
Telephone 00212(0) 062866013
Charity Commission registration:
Jarjeer Mule and Donkey Trust 1183446
This report chronicles progress at Jarjeer during the past year. You may be aware of some of the changes by reference to our website and other media outlets.
It may assist to reiterate briefly our objectives. We are registered in Morocco as an NGO and now have charitable status in the United Kingdom under the name ‘Jarjeer Mule and Donkey Trust’. The refuge has existed for six years and our principal objective is to provide a permanent home and continuing care for abandoned working animals. Often we are involved in rescues and intervention to prevent neglect and abuse of the animals, exhausted after a lifetime of work. In a significant number of cases mules and donkeys have been abandoned us a result of serious injuries. We now have in our care 86 mules and donkeys.
We do not have a resident vet as our resources could not meet the expense. However, whenever we need a vet we have recourse to Dr Hayat Fouad who is committed to the work we do. Further he has taught our manager and three other members of the team how to handle first aid issues. The Refuge is close to the village of Oumnass, 25 km from Marrakesh where all eleven members of the team live with their families. Four of the men are constantly building creating new stables and paddock areas. Two gardeners maintain the 16 acres of land and the others are very much hands-on with the day-to-day welfare tasks. We also have a night guardian.
The mules and donkeys are here from various parts of the country such as Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca and south of Agadir. Normally the Refuge bears the cost of transport and in a number of cases despite the condition of the animals we have had no choice but to purchase. It should be noted that increasingly Moroccans are making the the call for help.
We now undertake outreach work and will treat animals and advise their owners in surrounding areas.
As to sustainability issues the food requirements are sourced locally in the farming community. In terms of employment, apart from the Jarjeer team we regularly employ local trades people to meet other requirements at the refuge.
As previously mentioned, we are registered as an NGO and as to the make up of the committee eight of the trustees are from the village. We feel very much part of the community and I believe that there is a collective pride in what we strive to do.
As to funding the Refuge depends principally on our own resources but we are pleased to say that we are getting further support consequent to visits and other contacts. The Refuge does now have an international following and we have visits on a regular basis from persons abroad as well as Moroccans. We aim to be self sufficient within five years and have planned succession for the Refuge taking into account our respective ages.
We face different challenges than established sanctuaries in the western world. We recognise and admire the work they do but we have in our case mules and donkeys who have known nothing but work and are often ill treated and abandoned when no longer fit for purpose. Our team strive to set high standards and not infrequently have shared amazing results in terms of recovery and well-being. We are the only facility in Morocco that cares for the old and disabled working animals.
Our annual expenditure last year to include labour, feed and medical care was £120.000. Labour costs are low in Morocco but we aim to pay a fair wage and are committed to caring for staff families during periods of ill health.
We plan expansion during the coming year and have now completed the conversion of existing buildings into a kitchen area for our new cafe. We are looking to raise enough money to buy a pick up truck both to transport animals and our food and building supplies.
Charles Hantom
President
Susan Machin
Founder and Trustee
ANNUAL REPORT 2020
Jarjeer Mule and Donkey Refuge DR Oumnass Tameslohte Morocco 40000 www.jarjeer.org
Email: contact@jarjeer.org Telephone 00212(0) 062866013
Charity Commission UK registration: Jarjeer Mule and Donkey Trust 1183446
Morocco registration: Jarjeer Mule and Donkey Refuge 386 ICE number: 47268613
REPORT FROM THE JARJEER MULE AND DONKEY REFUGE
1. It may assist to reiterate briefly our objectives. We are registered in Morocco as an NGO. The refuge has existed for seven years and our principal objective is to provide a permanent home and continuing care for abandoned, injured and working animals. Often, we are involved in rescues and intervention to prevent neglect and abuse of the animals, exhausted after a lifetime of work. In a significant number of cases mules and donkeys have been abandoned us a result of serious injuries. We now have in our care 130 mules and donkeys. Our numbers have doubled during the pandemic.
2. We do not have a resident vet as our resources still could not meet the expense. However, whenever we need a vet, we continue to have recourse to Dr Hayat Fouad who is committed to the work we do. Further he has taught and trained our two co-manager appointed in September 2020. The Refuge is close to the village of Oumnass, 25 km from Marrakesh where all fourteen members of the team live with their families. Three of the men are constantly building new stables and paddock areas, three maintain the gardens and grounds. The others are very much hands-on with the day-to-day welfare tasks. We also have a night guardian. 3. The mules and donkeys are here from various parts of the country such as Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca and south of Agadir. Normally the Refuge bears the cost of transport and in a number of cases despite the condition of the animals we have had no choice but to purchase. It should be noted that increasingly Moroccans are making the call help.
4. We now undertake outreach work and will treat animals and advise their owners in surrounding areas. During the pandemic we had to care for several starving caleche horses which are now recovered and returned to their owners. Three ex-cart horses have now remained at Jarjeer in retirement.
5. As to sustainability issues the food requirements are sourced locally in the farming community. In terms of employment, apart from the Jarjeer team we regularly employ local trades people to meet other requirements at the refuge.
6. We have mentioned that we are registered as an NGO and as to the makeup of the committee 4 of the trustees are from the village in addition to Charles (President), Kathy (Secretary) and Susan (Treasurer ). Susan acts as Managing Director for which she receives no pay. Two trustees have resigned. One of those resigning undertook considerable plumbing work at the Refuge and in the private villa for which he was paid. The other resignee felt that he was not given enough decision making power and we have taken professional advise on that point.
7. The refuge is now a very large project with a national and international reputation. We rely wholly on donations from abroad which go to our sister charity in the United Kingdom "The Jarjeer Mule and Donkey Trust". Those monies are transferred to the Refuge bank account when and as needed. Without the enormous amount of work that goes into revenue generation we would not be able to maintain our staff or indeed feed and house our animals.
8. The whole operation equates to the running of a small to medium size hotel. That requires particular skills and all staff, particularly those that work directly with the donkeys, are selected for the skill, expertise and knowledge that they can bring to Jarjeer. On advice, similar skills are required from trustees, it is just not good enough to take volunteers. The main role of a trustee is to see that the organisation is managed correctly and the funds are spent on the purpose for which they are intended. The issue was raised by a trustee, who resigned, relating to liability. That is a valid and important point. This past year total responsibility for liability has been carried by Charles and Susan. That was necessary when we dismissed our former manager for having taken Charles personal car without permission with alcohol in his blood. As a result of his actions Charles had to personally raise £17,000 from the UK (210900.00 dirham). We were asked to financially assist our former manager. We refused.
9. Again having taken legal advise and having considered the matter very carefully, the decision had been taken that no trustee should be appointed who is related to any member of staff. Such a conflict of interest is obvious.
10. We have applications from 2 new trustees. Pat Banner has qualification, skill and expertise in business management and has lived in Morocco for many years. Anna Walker is medically qualified and has management experience both in the UK and Morocco. Along with Kathy Clark they are able to understand the international find raising issues and the English banking system on which we depend. We rely very much on co-operation and goodwill from Oumnass and everyone in the village is always welcome to visit Jarjeer at any time.
11. Historically, as to funding the Refuge depended principally on Charles and Susan’s own resources but we are pleased to say that we are getting further support consequent to visits and other contacts as well as grants from money raised by the Trust.
12. We have depended on our staff, particularly since the loss of our manager. Ayoub Halgan and Simohamed Ait Tazoult have been appointed as co managers. We are grateful for their efforts as indeed to Abdahne who has assumed day to day welfare of the animals. Our team strive to set high standards and not infrequently have shared amazing results in terms of recovery and well-being. We are the only facility in Morocco that cares for the very old and disabled working animals. I hope this report identifies all that we are committed to do. Our annual expenditure last year to include labour, feed and medical care. We have built 7 more traditional stables and are now building more for horses. We continue to upgrade our clinic. A significant difference has been made by the purchase of a commercial truck. The money to buy the truck was raised by supporters of the Jarjeer Mule and Donkey Trust. This has enabled us to undertake more outreach work, collect animals from afar and assist other animal welfare charities. Our staff who travel in the truck are trained to deal with medical emergencies and carry tools and medication with them.
13. We have had considerable press coverage during the year including Moroccan press. We are pleased that Mamounia Hotel is now working closely with us on promotional videos.
14. During the pandemic many people from abroad, who have not visited Morocco before, now want to come and visit the Refuge. We hope in the coming year we can collaborate with the village to ensure adequate hotel accommodation and hospitality from local people. We all look forward to the future with an open mind and optimism.
Charles Hantom. President
Kathy Clark Secretary
Susan Machin Treasurer
Reports in connection with the Jarjeer Mule and Donkey Trust can be found on the link below: