Understanding Factors Affecting Working Equid Welfare: Developing Engagement and Impact

The research aspect of this Fellowship will take place on Lamu Island in Kenya. The Research Fellow, in conjunction with local stakeholders on Lamu Island, will develop an arts-based initiative accessible to the community. Time would be spent working with Lamu Art and Theatre Alliance (LATA), stakeholders and local key informants in a focus group format to develop a short research-informed drama piece, which raises awareness of animal sentience and the donkey welfare issues, most pertinent to the island. This theatre piece will be performed for local schools by LATA and the initiative will be evaluated by collecting baseline and post-initiative data from spectators of the drama piece both during the Lamu culture festival and school visits. The work will also be supported by international NGO The Donkey Sanctuary who have a clinic base on Lamu Island.