Kindness to Animals has no Boundaries January 2022 Dear Animal-Kind Friends,
Our 2021 Annual Report is now available on the AKI website. While it was a remarkable year (including because we again broke our record by raising more money and helping more animals - as we have every year since AKI’s start in 2007), the highlight of 2021 was that after 5 years, Uganda SPCA purchased land. And they did this largely thanks to donors to AKI!
The 1st review of our Annual Report is in and it’s very positive: “What a great year! All those animals, and all those heroic people being supported by AKI! For me as a donor, suffering alleviated is THE important thing, so when I read about all those little guys fed and doctored and sometimes even loved, it just makes me want to do more and more.” Read our Annual Report and know that because of your help, so much suffering has been alleviated.
As part of our yearly reporting, we show you how donors designated their donations, and as you can see, 2021 was a big year for for Uganda SPCA. Our Africa-Based Animal Welfare Organization Grant Program continues to be popular too! And we’re grateful to those of you who tell us to use your donation as needed (the “General Fund”).
New Partner Organization starting in 2022
I am so excited that Sauvons nos Animaux in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is now an AKI Partner Organization! Sauvons nos Animaux was a two-time Africa-Based Animal Welfare Organization Grantee. They also benefited from our “Friendly Audits” mentorship program (THANK YOU Tracy!!!) SnA works in one of the most difficult places on earth, where lives of cats and dogs are considered disposable (and where violence, poverty, and natural disasters cause so much pain). But SnA Founder & Director, Paterne Bushunju, is changing that -helping people and animals-and we want to help him! [Read about Paterne in Bark magazine.]
Picture above: Through SnA’s Kids Program, Paterne has turned kids who previously threw rocks at dogs into dog lovers (including those in the picture above). He invites local kids to the SnA shelter, shows them how much dogs -and cats- have to offer us, and how they rely on us. He makes it fun to care for and be with dogs and cats. These kids become role models in their communities. SnA’s shelter cares for about 200 cats and dogs.
AKI Grantee: Humane Africa Trust-Part 2 - Linda Ncube, Founder & Director of Humane Africa Trust-Zimbabwe, a 2021 AKI grantee (in partnership with Tikobane Trust), writes about her challenges, achievements, and her dream for Zimbabwe’s cats and dogs. (If you enjoyed Part 1-and so many of you told us you did, I’m sure you’ll enjoy Part 2 just as much!)
Uganda SPCA:Update - This article is about Uganda SPCA’s imminent move to their new location, and how donations to AKI have helped the USPCA through another difficult year.
AKI Grantee: MARES (Zimbabwe) - Matabeleland Animal Rescue & Equine Sanctuary was awarded an Africa-Based Animal Welfare Organization Grant in 2021 to implement their project: Education and Making of Humane Cost-Effective Harnesses and Yokes for Donkeys. This article is about the successful implementation of their AKI grant project.
Picture above: An AKI-funded MARES training course. This is the way donkeys should be hitched-their legs won’t rub against the cart, their harnesses won’t cause injuries, and the weight of the cart will be shared by the 2 donkeys. MARES trains donkey owners to make and use humane harnesses, provides vet care for donkeys, and advocates for better donkey care in Zimbabwe.
AKI Grantee: Mthatha SPCA (South Africa) - Mthatha SPCA cares for large animals that the Traffic Department brings to the SPCA when found wandering on national roads and also that the SPCA rescues from neglect, cruelty, and road accidents. This article is about our grant to Mthatha, which will help them provide better care for cows, horses, donkeys, sheep, and goats for years to come.
AKI News & Updates
Animal-Kind International -and some of our Partners and Grantees- are on the "Wall of Fame": https://vks.die-luebecker-museen.de/wall-of-fame as part of an exhibit at a museum in Germany!
Monthly Donors! If you haven’t already received my end-of-year email about what your donations achieved during 2021, PLEASE get in touch. If you’d like to become a monthly donor to AKI-we would love to have you join us. Our monthly donors are our life blood!
Pet Portraits! For a $12 donation (or more) you can request a Pet Portrait -they make great gifts and keepsakes. You’ll receive a downloadable file that you can print as many times as you’d like; or send your file to a commercial printer to create posters, coffee mugs, t-shirts, etc. (Thank you Joan for your creativity and generosity!)
Have you seen the AKI Memory Wall? It’s a beautiful, moving tribute to the animals and people we love. If you’d like to a memorial placed on the Wall, please get in touch.
As always, we are so grateful to you-for making 2021 another memorable year for AKI and allowing us to help so many animals and the people who care for them. Your kindness and generosity kept my spirits up through another strange year.
With Gratitude, Karen Menczer, Founder/Director & the Animal-Kind International Board
AKI has Partner Organizations in Uganda (2 partners), Namibia (2 partners), DR Congo, Ghana, South Sudan, Liberia, Honduras, Jamaica, and Armenia. Our 2021 grantees work in: Ghana, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe (3 grantees). AKI: Since 2007, helping animals and the people who care for them in some of the poorest countries. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization; donations to AKI are tax deductible in the US to the extent the law allows. 100% of your donations go to our Partners & Grant Program.