Five children from The Amelia Trust Farm, a church funded charity near Cardiff, Wales will be visiting our Sanctuary in Cyprus this week.

The Trust caters for children taking alternative educational directions, most of whom have learning difficulties or come from deprived backgrounds.

Ann Slater, Youth Worker and Donkey Manager for the Trust, uses two foster donkeys, Enoch and Jasper, plus her own donkey called Polo, to work with the children both practically as well as helping the children improve their mental attitude to relationships and work.

Liz Ellis, one of our area welfare officers, holds Stage 1 and 2 training courses for the Trust and says: "We have seen many remarkable improvements when these kids work with the donkeys; some of them responding for the first time to anything."

The Trust has raised all their own funding, including flights, car hire, keep, and a donation to our Sanctuary in Cyprus will be presented later in the week to Judy Welsman, our European Welfare Co-ordinator.

While the children are visiting the Sanctuary, they will be helping to muck out the donkeys in the mornings as well as grooming and donkey walking. They will also have a great opportunity to do some sightseeing before coming home.