5 minute read
Helping Animals in Tanzania by Manase Leskary
TANZANIA, home to the Serengeti National Park, faces many challenges, including food security. Eating plant-based can be a challenge anywhere but even more so where food can at times be scarce. But many staple dishes are already vegan and as with many African countries there is a growing vegan culture in Tanzania.
Manase Leskary has set up his own rescue centre and vegan outreach campaign in Tanzania and is working hard to help animals wherever he can.
Greetings people, I am Manase from Arusha, Tanzania. I was raised in Arusha, and I still live here in Arusha. There is definitely a growing vegan scene but there’s a long way to go yet.
I went vegan over 8 years ago, and in this last decade there have been changes - but not in the higher percentages that I would love to see. For many people here, veganism is still a strange thing in their minds, but slowly people are starting to use more plants for health in place of eating animals, and that is a big change.
I have always had a strong passion for animals since when I was young so I kept in mind that animals are friends and not food, because food is grown not born - so you could say I am addicted to veganism at this point!
On a typical day I eat Wali [rice mixed with vegetables and beans] – but as currently I’m out of work because I lost my job due to COVID, I take care of my horticulture here at my home. I always like hiking, swimming, listening to and watching music for fun and relaxation.
I set up MAVOAS - Manaseh’s Voice for Animals Society, which is a platform created by me aiming to create respect and empathy for animals through education and advocacy. We also promote awareness and educate communities about animals and their rights. MAVOAS is self funded and the work is voluntary so If you would like to contribute toward our running costs we would be very grateful!
Rescue work is really important because animals are suffering more and more, and they are in danger because they’re treated like non-living things.
I also do vegan outreach - not a large group of people but there’s a few of us - sometimes operational costs like transport fees and some of the materials we use like computers are expensive and prohibitive - it’s always a challenge to get more funds to spend, and I don’t really have any contacts with other vegan groups in Tanzania. I’m not even sure there are any.
But plant-based food is part of our culture - we have several cultural foods like Ugali made by using maize floor, and Kande cooked by mixing maize with beans - and also Wali which is mixed rice with beans and sometimes vegetables. There’s also an increase in Western food culture too. Foods like the plant-based McBurger are becoming available in Tanzania now too.
What’s holding back the growth of understanding of animal rights in Tanzania?
A lack of funding is a big issue. For example, MAVOAS itself has a strong passion for raising awareness and promoting animal rights through education but at times it is also failing to fulfill its mission and vision because of a lack of funds. If you would like to support us, we would welcome support from everyone - including any animal rights organisations.
I would like to invite animal rights activists worldwide, companies and all the animals lovers out there to support our mission In order to fulfill our vision effectively as it is planned. Animals are friends and we are their voice so let’s build the best planet for animals together!
At MAVOAS we try to help all animals but we can’t help them all, because there are so many who need help. I try and help people understand by educating them on how to treat animals without hurting them and make them friends because they have feelings too. But also when I find an animal who is in trouble - like maybe they are sick - I will always pay what I have to help to call a vet, or to buy food for them.
The big problem I face for them is for instance I can meet an animal who’s in serious trouble, and by that time I don’t have the time or resources to help the way I want to. But I do what I can and love what I do, and will always try my best to help animals in Tanzania.
