COVID-19 may have affected much of 2020 but we didn’t let it stop us from providing volunteering opportunities to the veterinary profession. The Trust’s Secretariat Leaya Slater gives us an update.
Our activities this year have been a little different to previous years, and, like most, we have adapted what we do to continue the work of the BEVA Trust.
The Education and Welfare Clinics run with the British Horse Society are now in their fifth year and growing in popularity with over 150 members experiencing the atmosphere, teamwork and camaraderie of volunteering at a clinic.
We managed to hold one clinic in Lancashire before COVID-19 restrictions forced us to cancel the remaining clinics for the year. Thirteen vets and one EVN attended to the horses. Thank you to our volunteers and the BHS for a successful day.
Andrew and Luise Harrison also travelled to the Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust in February.
Unfortunately since March our annual projects with partners including WHW, ACE Egypt and the American Fondouk were put on hold. But we have been able to still provide some virtual volunteering opportunities.
Camilla Church and Victoria South were the first to take part in a partnership with WVS Academy and provided online lectures to Ethiopian vets.
“Being new to lecturing - especially on a global scale, I was a little daunted at being on “stage” with my previous university lecturers! However, having just completed my presentation and Q&A to over 600 delegates online from the comfort of my own home, I can say I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I hope that this will open other avenues for me, and I thank the BEVA Trust and World Veterinary Service for the opportunity.” - Camilla Church, BEVA Trust Volunteer.
We also have just held further online lectures in November for vets in Ukraine and are working on several more virtual volunteering opportunities.
We are continuing to monitor the Government advice and guidelines and hope to be able to offer further volunteering opportunities in 2021.
To be the first to hear about volunteering opportunites, email Leaya Slater.
Donate to the BEVA Trust here.