Happily I have recently found a positive context to set my writing in and also to provide an antidote to an otherwise pretty dismal case. With this in mind I am now more inclined to write a little piece about my observations of the treatment of animals by the majority of people here.
I know I am not the first, and I won’t be the last, ex-pat to feel utterly helpless and very sad when moving around Cairo and seeing the animals being so openly treated badly. Basically, the concept of animal welfare in this country is, quite simply, non- existent. It is worth being prepared for it, if this is your first time in a big, rapidly developing metropol like Cairo. You will encounter donkeys that have been left to stand all day in the heat and the trash just so that they can prop up a market seller’s trailer. In the backstreets chickens, rabbits and ducks are kept in tiny cages stacked on top of one to be sold as food and all over Cairo during Eid and sheep and cows are held in pens at the side of busy, dusty roads before they are taken to be killed for the feast.
This is heartbreaking to witness and however long I live in this country for, and whatever else I am able to adapt to, this particular feeling will never, ever change. However. I must stress. A vast majority of the time what you will see is not cruelty for cruelty’s sake. The behavior is generally derived from lack of education and poverty. Tradesmen who use animals to earn a living simply have no concept of the fact that they suffer, just like humans, with bad treatment. And, as Rami rightly informed me, when people have not even got enough money to feed themselves, they are not going to care too much for the animals that they eat or utilise.
So this is the tragedy told. However, the positive side to the story is that there are people and places who are helping the situation. One such organisation is Luxor – based charity Animal Care Egypt (ACE), which I will proceed to write a little bit about.
What is ACE?
Two animal lovers from the UK finally decided to take action after a visit to Egypt left them wanting to help. In 2000 they brought a small piece of land in Luxor with the aim to help care for the sick and tired working animals by providing a place to wash and water them. 12 years on and the charity Animal Care Egypt has been fully established and runs the only Veterinary clinic in Luxor. In addition, ACE gives educational talks children all over Egypt, from the city to the suburbs, to help prevent the mistreatment of animals being carried into the next generation. ACE provides a free service; relying on the support of volunteer vets from the UK and on donations.
This fantastic establishment caught the attention of my colleagues and me, when a devoted supporter of the place took an interest in our photo competition (see previous blog). Photography enthusiast Helen Bailey introduced us to her stunning portfolio of photographs from Luxor and the surrounds, including photos from ACE.
Because the cause she supports is so worthwhile, and her photographs are of a professional standard, we decided here at IH Cairo ILI that it provided the perfect opportunity to draw attention to a very good cause. Helen’s photographs will be installed alongside the ILI photography competition finalists’ pictures in order to raise awareness and donations for ACE.
I hope that this is the beginning of fruitful relationship between the IH Cairo ILI and ACE; we may even try and send some student to visit the place as the charity takes volunteers willing to help look after the animals, even if they are not trained vets.
The photography exhibition will be on display week commencing April 22nd and you can keep checking Facebook for regular updates. For more information on this incredible place visit www.ace-egypt.org.uk or email founder Kim on Kimace56@hotmail.com.
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| photo © H.Bailey- Aurelie Landrieu and Jules the Donkey |
intéressant :)
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