meet our new partner group in botswana: maun animal welfare society (MAWS)

Written By Renate Homburg

We are excited to welcome Maun Animal Welfare Society (MAWS) to the AAA family of partner groups this month. 

MAWS will be delivering a mobile outreach program funded by AAA. The program will provide essential veterinary care and welfare support to working equines in remote villages across Ngamiland, Botswana.

Working donkeys and horses are vital to rural livelihoods in this region, providing transport, water collection and income generation. However, access to veterinary services in these remote areas is extremely limited, resulting in preventable suffering, injury and, consequently, reduced productivity. 

This project aims to reach approximately 8-10 remote villages between May and December, 2026, providing treatment and welfare support for around 300–400 working equines. The number of animals reached will depend on field conditions and the availability of our veterinary surgeon volunteers on our mainstream program.

Equines are used for ploughing fields, carrying water, transporting goods and people using scotch carts, along with rounding up cattle and other livestock.

  • Working equines in these areas commonly suffer from:

  • Untreated wounds and harness injuries,

  • Heavy parasite burdens,

  • Lameness due to lack of farrier care,

  • Poorly-fitted or harmful harnessing equipment.

These issues significantly impact both animal welfare and community livelihoods. Previous outreach programs conducted by MAWS have demonstrated strong demand for services and measurable improvements in equine health and owner awareness. 

The project will consist of mobile outreach clinics conducted in collaboration with local village leadership (Kgosi) and supported by volunteer veterinary surgeons.

Key activities include:

  • Clinical examination and treatment of equines,

  • Deworming (e.g. Panacur),

  • Wound care and infection management,

  • Basic farrier interventions where required,

  • Replacement of harmful harnessing equipment (with surrender of old items).

We look forward to sharing news of our first outreach clinic with MAWS in our May / June newsletter.

Renate Homburg
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