Founded on Love, Sustained by Community
How a retirement journey in Morocco turned into an international sanctuary for 150+ retired working donkeys and a lifeline for rural mountain farmers.
"We Came to Retire, but the Donkeys Needed Us"
In 2012, Susan and Charles moved from the UK to the quiet Atlas foothills near Marrakech. They quickly noticed the harsh realities facing working equines—animals that carry firewood, water, and agricultural harvests over steep mountain paths for decades.
When an old donkey was abandoned on the roadside with broken limbs, they refused to look away. What began in their private garden has expanded into a registered Moroccan association and UK charity covering hectares of olive groves, shaded paddocks, and specialized medical clinics.
Today, Jarjeer is not just a haven for retired donkeys; it is an economic anchor for local Berber families, employing over 20 Moroccan caregivers and providing completely free veterinary healthcare for the working animals of neighboring villages.
The Three Pillars of Jarjeer
Every donation, visit, and craft purchase fuels this holistic model of animal welfare and rural support.
1. Lifetime Sanctuary
When a working donkey can no longer work due to old age, blindness, or joint disability, they receive permanent, dignified refuge. Here, they will never pull a cart again.
2. Free Community Clinic
We operate a fully equipped equine dispensary providing free consultations, hoof trimming, wound treatments, and equine dental care to local subsistence farmers.
3. Education & Advocacy
Promoting compassionate equine husbandry. We run gentle handling clinics for owners, distribute padded humane harnesses, and host local Moroccan school groups.
Life in the Sanctuary Fields
From sunrise feeding to afternoon veterinary rounds, here is what your compassion creates.
Come Experience the Peace of Jarjeer
Our gates are open to visitors every day. Walk through the olive trees, hear the donkeys bray with joy, and see the difference your generosity makes.