At The Donkey Sanctuary we recognise that cyclic droughts are an inevitable part of life for many donkeys and the communities in which they live and work.

When rains fail and water and food become scarcer, and wells dry up, the work of donkeys starts to increase. Thirsty and hungry themselves, they have to carry increasing amounts of water and food over longer distances for people and other animals. They are often the last to be offered the water they have carried.

This little girl and boy are children of donkey owners in Palitana, a small town in Gujurat, India. Above Palitana is a long hill. It takes 3,950 steps to get to the top. The top of the hill is covered with Jain temples, and the number of temples keeps growing. All the building materials are carried up on the backs of donkeys.

Thursday 23rd October

Tenango del Valle is just beyond Santiago Tianguistenco. Its primary school seems idyllic. A playground bordered by beds of flowering bushes and lilies sits between two bright rows of classrooms. To one side is a grassy football pitch and a woody knoll. Beyond is a view to hillsides patched with agriculture and more distant mountain tops. At last we are going to see the education team in action.

Tuesday 21st October

While Mal Squance, our Deputy Chief Executive, has a day in the office, I join a mixed team led by Carlos but including Mauro a veterinary assistant, Pablo the farrier, Beto the harness-maker, Alma, Ereka and Diana the Social Service vets, and Fernando, another Social Service vet from a different programme who acts as my translator for the day.

Monday 20th October

We are collected early by the project vets Carlos and Mauro, project driver and logistician Josue, and social service vets Erika and Diana to drive to St Bernabe market. This lies about 60 kms as the crow flies west of Mexico City between Toluca and Ixtalhuaca. However we do not follow the route of a crow and the journey, up over forested hills in clear morning light cut by occasional bands of low morning mist, takes us 3 hours.

Thursday 16th - Saturday 18th October

On Thursday we set off for Martinez de la Toro in Veracruz State, a field station for UNAM (the Autonomous National University of Mexico) vet school and home to the Veracruz sub-project. We go with Mariano, the vet in charge of the Veracruz sub-project, and Avril, Elena and Josue from the Education programme. Later we are joined by Horacio, Mexico Project Manager, and Luis, his driver and logistician. From Mexico City to Martinez de la Torre is a 5-6 hour drive.