AN ANIMAL charity volunteer from Headley has won a national award for her dedication to animal welfare.
Jen White, a recent university graduate, beat off competition from three others to be given the accolade of International Volunteer at this year's Ceva Animal Welfare Awards.
The second annual awards, held by Ceva, manufacturers of Feliway and Adaptil, recognised six individuals consisting of volunteers, charity workers, veterinary professionals and children who have all demonstrated outstanding commitment to supporting animal welfare.
Jen, who has been providing her services completely free of charge to the Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust for more than one-and-a-half years, was stunned to win.
She said: "I'm absolutely delighted to have won the award, I was even just happy to be nominated, let alone win! I'm so passionate about animal welfare and plan to make it into a lifelong career so to be formally recognised by the industry is really exciting.
"The Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust is a very small organisation so everyone at the charity is really happy and very proud. I couldn't do my role if it wasn't for the help of everyone there so I hope they share this recognition with me."
After studying the economic benefits of working animals in developing countries, Jen travelled to Gambia for a two-week volunteering stint in 2010. However, she was drawn back to the organisation in 2011 and hasn't looked back.
Responsible for running all overseas operations and overseeing a team of 16, Jen has handled a variety of crises from rearing orphan animals to providing first aid to the locals. She manages an equine veterinary centre with around 30 animals and a mobile veterinary clinic for rural villages.
Jen said: "No two days are ever the same out here and I get to work with some really fantastic people – both Gambian staff and also visiting volunteer vets who I've learnt so much from. But the best thing is the animals. Knowing you're making a direct impact on their lives and through that helping their owners and the whole community – it brings an enormous sense of satisfaction. I've learnt so much from the people, who live with so little yet are wonderfully happy. It certainly helps put things in perspective."
Jen was chosen as the winner by a panel of judges consisting of celebrity vets Marc Abraham and Joe Inglis, veterinary surgeon Chris Laurence MBE, Ross Tiffin of International Cat Care (formerly the Feline Advisory Bureau) and Dennis Baker OBE chief executive at Wood Green, the animal charity.
Ginette Bryant of Ceva Animal Health said: "The International Volunteer category was incredibly close but the judges felt Jen had a superior edge when it came to demonstrating animal welfare overseas.
"Jen has not only taken on an extremely challenging role straight out of university, she is truly committed to improving conditions for animals. As well as running the vet centre in Gambia, Jen manages a number of educational welfare projects for farmers and children in the local area. Her dedication to education is something which the judges were especially impressed with, as this really is the key to changing people's attitudes towards animal welfare in the future."
