By Peta Jones (Donkey Power Facilitation and Consultancy, South Africa)
19 Jan 2011

I was fortunate enough to go to the Sixth International Colloquium on Working Equids in India in December with the theme of ‘Learning from Others’. During the event, it was very interesting to see how much ‘participation’ is still being debated – after all these decades – with the recognition that the tools are less important than just time to listen.  It is only surprising that this needs so much reiteration.

‘Education’ – whether or not disguised as behaviour change – could be seen as an antithetic approach. However in both the formal and informal contexts, it seems to be the agreed way to reach the next generation. 

It is no surprise to find that monitoring and evaluation are such problems, as these also are subject to time and money constraints, even more than the interventions themselves.  But it is good to find that recognition is also being given to the issue.

From this colloquium I have brought away a much clearer picture of the world in which working equids now operate, and what can be done to improve it.  The message I have taken from the colloquium has been that the solution lies within communities of animal owners and handlers, not outside them.  It is encouraging to realise that economic recession may speed up this recognition of this solution, rather than slow it.