WHO IS AWI
Inspiring compassion & creating change
Our ambition is for communities to create their own sanctuary: with routine vaccinations, a healthy manageable population and general respect and empathy for animals.
VITTORIA SOGNO
Founder
The reason AWI came into being is all down to a little dog called Chapa. In 2010 Vittoria first visited the Ilha de Mocambique and her heart was captured by this little stray. On discovering that there was nowhere for her to get Chapa checked out, vaccinated and sterilised, Vittoria – with help from Chris Staubo – decided to invite vets to come and run temporary clinics for the cats and dogs on the island.
Chapa was adopted by Vittoria and became the clinic’s mascot. In 2015 AWI was finally incorporated with great support from Chris, and thanks to The Ruby Trust, a small permanent clinic was set up, assisted by volunteer vets.
Previously dependent on long distance veterinary advice and teams of volunteers, AWI was given new direction in 2018, when Dr. Sara Grosso joined as a full-time vet. Thanks to her and her team’s hard work and dedication, the clinic has changed the lives of so many locals and endless numbers of their four-legged and feathered friends.
SANDRA RODRIGUES
Co-Founder
Sandra Rodrigues met Vittoria on ilha.
They soon discovered they had a common interest and love for animals.
When the idea of setting up AWI came about Sandra joined as a Co-founder.
SARA GROSSO
The Super Vet
As far she can remember Sara has always fond of animals, growing up with various animals such as dogs and horses. Becoming a vet was a natural progression.
Towards the end of her veterinary studies in Maputo UEM, she decided to volunteer at a local shelter in Maputo to gain experience and hone her skills. Her first professional job was working at a private veterinary clinic in Maputo, mainly with cats and dogs.
Next was a 2-year stint working for an international animal welfare association which took her to India and Mauritius where she learnt to not only care for animals, but also how to run an association and manage strategies for animal population management.
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Sara opened her own company to provide support to other animal welfare associations in Mozambique, helping spay and neuter as well as implementing welfare strategies all over the country. This led her to the Ilha de Moçambique in 2017.
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After a while going back and forth between the island, Maputo and more deprived parts of the country, she finally decided that she had enough experience to settle permanently on the Ilha de Moçambique.
Here she was able to reinforce the bonds between the different veterinary associations in order to improve cooperation and better provide care for animals.
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Since her arrival she has worked tirelessly to greatly lower the number of free roaming dogs who were a source of disease and insecurity, but done in a humane way through spaying, neutering and adoption.
Another considerable impact, but one that isn’t so visible, is when providing help to the animal this also helps the family that owns it. When the animal is free of disease, this protects the community because some diseases are transmissible between man and animal.
Another feeling of pride for the clinic is that local people connect differently today with their pets than before. They are more aware of the services of AWI and thus have more trust in the clinic (for vaccination for example), thus caring more for their pets.
Sara would like in the future to expand her knowledge about surgery techniques on other local wildlife such as reptiles and raptors (owls, etc.) or even marine mammals such as dolphins.
OUR STAFF
We could not function without our amazing team and the dedication and compassion they show in the day-to-day running of AWI. They are all proud pet owners and their glossy, fit and healthy cats and dogs are the talk of the community. They are the best advertisement for AWI Clinic and demonstrate how well-cared for animals contribute to a better environment.
GULAMO
Community Co-Ordinator - Handler
Gulamo has been with AWI since the inception. A master of invention and ‘make-do’, he managed to create cat traps out of old plastic crates and string before AWI had funds to invest in proper ones. With training from Daniel Stewart-dog behaviourist and handling expert-he is the main trap setter for our TNR programme.
He is the co-ordinator and liaison between the community and AWI. Among his many responsibilities, he is in charge of the daily feeding programme and accompanies the vets on call-outs acting as translator and assistant.
ABDUL
Vet Nurse
Abdul’s background is in hospital nursing. His skills, combined with his calm and patient demeanour have made him an excellent surgical assistant and he is in charge of post-operative care.
He joins Sara on vaccination campaigns and house calls. Abdul is also a cat ‘whisperer’ – our cat patients just love him!
MUSSA
Night Care
Like so many of our staff, Mussa has a multitude of responsibilities in the clinic.
Primarily our night watchman, he is also responsible for setting the cat traps, keeping an eye on our patients as well as distributing the evening meals. He’s another cat soother.
HALIMA
Cleaner - Cook
Halima manages to look glamorous even when cleaning the offices and cooking for all the animals.
Her other special skill is naming our strays – and picking a name to fit the individual character.
RAMIRO
Carer Clinic Assistant
Looking after all the animals is a full-time job, and Ramiro is in charge of making sure that our patients have clean bedding, water bowls and litter boxes.
He is also a vigilant cleaner and keeps our clinic disinfected and spotless.
THANK YOU
To Chapa, Sara, Chris, the AWI team, and to all our donors, supporters and friends who have been by our side through all the good and challenging times - a huge thank you!
OUR DONORS
