About Us

The Donkey Sanctuary was founded in 1969 by Elisabeth Svendsen.

Donkey Sanctuary Ethiopia is one of the overseas projects of The Donkey Sanctuary Working Worldwide, UK. It is fully funded and technically supported by the same animal welfare charity in the UK. The charity started providing free health care services to working donkeys and mules in the vicinity of Debre Zeit within 100-150km radius in four districts (Ada, Akaki, Boset, Bereh), based in the School of Veterinary Medicine, Addis Ababa University since 1994. Later it included more districts within the indicated radius around Debre Zeit. In 2003, the charity expanded to Amhara and Tigray regions in the north, and the Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples’ Region (SNNPR) in the south. These regions and Oromia make up about 96% of the donkey population in the country; yet through our services we reach far less than 10% of the population. The charity has two stationary clinics (Debre Zeit and Markato Donkey Clinics) operating under the University and five mobile clinics fully operating in the regions.

Our Office

The country office is established in Addis Ababa coordinating and directing the developments in Ethiopia in the interest of The Donkey Sanctuary UK. Projects in Amhara, Southern Nations and Nationalities Peoples Regional State (SNNPRS), and now Tigray operate directly with the country office. The partnership project with the university, Debre Zeit based project, receive technical and financial support while the management is under the School of Veterinary Medicine. Recently, we have submitted a five – year project proposal to work with Alage Technical and Vocational Training College. The College is the only institution in the country producing middle level animal health professionals.

Our Vision , Mission & Values

Our Mission

The mission of the Donkey Sanctuary Ethiopia, in general, is protecting donkeys and mules and promoting their welfare nationwide

Our Vision

The vision of the Donkey Sanctuary Ethiopia is to see healthy working donkeys and mules as well as owners kindness to them.

Values

Compassion,
Collaboration and
Creativity.