JustWorld Rider Ambassador Angela Lawrence with children from the Los Patojos project site.
JustWorld Technical Official Pedro Cebulka with winners in the Horseless Horse Show.

May 10, 2009 – Guatemala City, Guatemala – In an unprecedented event, JustWorld International combined a project site visit for ambassadors, donors and supporters with a partner horse show. A 14-member delegation of JustWorld International representatives, including Rider Ambassadors, Technical Officials and staff members, descended upon Guatemala to visit the Los Patojos project site and compete in the CSI1* Guatemala International Horse Show held at El Cortijo in Guatemala City from April 28 to May 3, 2009. JustWorld International is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of disadvantaged children in the developing world.

Last November, JustWorld partnered with the Guatemala Horse Festival and began working with a new project site, Los Patojos. A grassroots humanitarian organization located in Jocotenango, Los Patojos provides educational opportunities, a community kitchen and cultural centre to improve the quality of life for over 100 children. This second visit served to further strengthen the bonds between JustWorld and its partners, allowing many of its representatives to become involved.

The CSI1* Guatemala International Horse Show, organized by JustWorld Rider Ambassador Juan Andres Rodriguez and his family, welcomed over 200 show jumping riders from 16 nations competing at levels ranging from pre-children to Grand Prix. Of the JustWorld Rider Ambassadors participating, Brianne Link enjoyed a third place finish in one of her classes while Canada’s Angela Lawrence placed second. Victoria Heurtematte of Panama and Nick Dello Joio of the United States also competed on borrowed horses.

Brianne Link, who was accompanied to Guatemala by her mother, Linda, also had a major contribution to make outside of the show ring. In a shining example of JustWorld’s philosophy of ‘children helping children’, 10-year-old Link raised $1,500 all by herself to build a roof at the cultural center for the JustWorld project site, Los Patojos. This will allow children’s activities to take place year-round, including during the rainy season. At the ribbon cutting ceremony, in a show of appreciation, the children presented Link with a plaque commemorating her generosity.

The JustWorld delegation, which also included Technical Official and popular in-gate personality Pedro Cebulka, Stadium Jumping and Gold Coast Feed representative Matt Morrissey, Rider Ambassadors Kelsey Calabro and Olivia Lopez-Balboa, and staff members Leonel Dominguez, Naomi Licari, Jill Mills, and Jessica Newman, spent a lot of time at the Los Patojos project site interacting with the children and their teachers. In honor of the visit, the children performed various skits and musical acts in the newly built cultural center, funded by JustWorld.

Back at the horse show, the Horseless Horse Show that sees human participants competing on foot over people-sized obstacles, proved to be a popular and entertaining event. Among the 120 children that participated, 46 were from the Los Patojos project site. For many of the visiting children, it was their first experience seeing a horse up close and touching them, let alone jumping a course of mini jumps that simulates the sport of show jumping.

A horse auction was also organized by well-known Dutch breeders VDL, who generously donated $3,000 US from the proceeds to JustWorld International. Several other JustWorld Rider Ambassadors and local businesses pledged donations which, coupled with the Horseless Horse Show entry fees, made for a very significant contribution to JustWorld programs.

“I am thrilled with how well our week in Guatemala went,” said Jessica Newman, Executive Director of JustWorld International. “It marked the first time that JustWorld has had both a project for underprivileged children and a partner show in the same country. It was great to see how interested and motivated the equestrians in Guatemala are. We were overwhelmed by displays of interest from riders throughout Central America who want to jump on board and join us in bettering the lives of underprivileged children through the equestrian sport. It is exciting to see the tremendous potential for JustWorld expanding throughout Latin America, both with our projects and through equestrians and partner events.”

Significant progress was also made for the nutrition program at Los Patojos with food and dairy suppliers being identified. While in Guatemala, horse show participants and the JustWorld delegation stayed at the horse show’s official hotel, Hotel Real Vista. With locations in Guatemala City and Antigua, Hotel Real Vista is an official sponsor of JustWorld International and will be a strong partner as JustWorld strengthens its presence in Guatemala.

Further to corporate sponsorship, JustWorld International galvanized rider and ambassador interest from countries throughout Central America. Several junior riders from throughout Central America signed up to become Rider Ambassadors and are already planning how they can incorporate building awareness and support for JustWorld in their own schools and riding clubs.

Founded in 2002, JustWorld International raises awareness and funds in the equestrian community to support humanitarian projects that benefit impoverished communities and children in the developing world. Cooperating with local partners, JustWorld International implements sustainable, culturally sensitive education, health and vocational projects. There are currently more than 190 Rider Ambassadors from 27 different countries, ranging from nine-year-old pony riders to Olympic medalists, who help bring attention to JustWorld International’s cause. For more information on JustWorld International, please visit www.justworldinternational.org.