Exciting news from Jarjeer.

We had the most amazing news during June when Susan was told that she had been awarded an MBE in King Charles III birthday honours list.

The effect of the covid pandemic had a devastating effect on the horses that pull the caleches around the red city, their owners and the work we do here at the Refuge. We rescued so many horses since that time and there are now 320 equines resident at Jarjeer and numbers are rising daily. The pressure the whole team has been under has, at time, been unimaginable so you the news of Susan’s award meant so much to all of us to us all. On the 25th September Susan went to Windsor Castle where to an investiture where she received the award from The Princess Royal.

This was not only a special day for Susan and her family but also Ayoub, one of our managers who is known for his horsemanship skills. We have to thank the UK Immigration and Visa Service for promptly granting him a visa. Below you can see him proudly standing in front of the late Queen’s beloved fell ponies out for there daily exercise.

So many people had been so kind prior to this special day. The Halworth family who are designers and stylists from Beverly Hills are also huge supporters and they sent Susan a gift of a clutch bag and handbag for the day. The bags had a personal and valued history. They will be treasured. Prudence Milliner who perhaps is best known for her work with Vivienne Westwood, designed and made a hat for the investiture. Susan had the luxury of two gifted dresses, one having been made by Norya Aaron, a renowned designer here in Marrakech. Thank you Nina, Clare, Jane, Prudence and Norya.

Wonderful Reunion!

The day following the Investiture we met some of our supporters in Covent Garden, London. People came from far and wide including Susan’s home town, Liverpool.

The icing on the cake!

We all know that Susan had to think long and hard before accepting the MBE, having been born into a Quaker family who did not support honours! However, we all believe she was right to do so as it represented the work and the influence of the whole team in Morocco. So when Susan and Ayoub returned to Morocco they were met with the wonderful news that Will Young is to be our Patron. Will has been to Jarjeer on two occasions and we cannot think of anyone better suited to join our team. He is a renowned libertarian and also enjoys a connection with the late Vivienne Westwood. Will was thrilled for ‘Crying on the Bathroom Floor’ to be played at the Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood Spring-Summer 2025 show finale in Paris! Jarjeer are so honoured to be connected with so many people who share their ethical foundation of liberty, equal treatment and respect.

Inevitably there is a real danger that our recent news generates a view that all is well at Jarjeer. That is certainly not the case and the gruelling daily work continues. We would like to give you a couple of examples. Recently down in the Zagora dessert a donkey was attacked by a farmer as he had wandered onto his land eating his scarce crops. The farmer severely severed the tendons in his back legs leaving him seriously disabled. He was bought to Jarjeer where underwent 3 hours surgery which was, sadly. too late and the tendons could not be repaired. We did everything we could include making a wheelchair (a first in Morocco). we absolutely loved this donkey who we called Chouf. The wheelchair was a success and he love being out with the herd. Unfortunately our vet’s prognosis came to fruition and his arterial malfunction let to a fatal heart attack. He was buried with dignity on our land.

Sadness is part of everyday living here but so is great joy! Some months ago a stallion came to us from the public pound in Agadir. He was so badly malnourished and exhausted by a tortuous journey that he fell out of the back of the truck and we thought he was dead. He was immediately given serum and nursed round the clock . Eventually his injuries healed and he grew into a fine stallion. he has now gone to the horses accommodation and will be part of our therapy train programme for people with mental health problems. We called him Tonkin.

Tonkin’s arrival led to an important decision at Jarjeer. We were determined that the journey he endured would not happen in the future and we commissioned a fully operational equine ambulance. this has taken some time and we are grateful to organisations who made grants. They include the Ann Daubeny Charitable Trust, The AVM Foundation, Leisel Beech, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Orbis Employee Giving Programme along with may donations from our personal supporters. We are shortly expecting delivery of the ambulance and we will then post photographs.

At the end of the day, this is our reality. This is our weekly delivery of hay that costs £2000. We also take a delivery of straw, grain and sugar beet every week. It must be remembered that we live in desert conditions and there is no grazing for our animals. We are absolutely certain that those who have supported us through the years would not want us to turn equines away when there is nowhere else for them to go. That means that we must increase our revenue. We have suggested that if regular donors could just recruit one more person a month that would make a huge difference! We also feel that we now have to look for some commercial support. If any of you have any suggestions as to businesses that may be willing to partner with us, we would be very grateful. In the meantime, we appreciate monthly donations, however small or one off donations if people can afford it.

The 7 year drought, the pandemic and the earthquake has led to a real crisis for equines. Our mission, for not only the animals, but the whole communities affected must continue.

IMPRESSUM

This impressum sets out our legal status as a charity. The Jarjeer Mule and Donkey Trust is registered and regulated by the Charity Commission in the UK. Charity number 1183446. The purpose of the Trust is to advocate for assistance for working animals in Morocco with its prime purpose to support the Jarjeer Mule and Donkey Refuge. The Refuge is recognised as a charity in Morocco and the Association number is 386. Both the UK Charity and the Moroccan Association are overseen by Trustees.

Donations are made to the Trust. Our accounts are in the public domain and can be found on the Charity Commission website. Transfers to the Refuge are sent from the UK Charity bank account to the Refuge bank account in Morocco. The Trust uses authentic and traceable collecting agencies and verification of our legal status and details of the Trustees are held by those agencies. The Trust is registered with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs in the UK.

Details of our bank accounts are on the donation page of our website.