Hervé Godignon: Many Little Stones Make a Big Wall
Hervé Godignon wasn’t sure what to expect when he joined JustWorld on a visit to Cambodia years ago.
“Before going there I was a little bit—not afraid but taking care to see, because we are living very comfortably in our little world,” he says. “But I found so much happiness and hope. I was really happy to have participated.”
An Olympic medalist for France in 1992, Godignon continues to coach jumping riders and breed and train young horses. For his decades-long commitment to JustWorld, he’s one of this year’s gala honorees.
A top rider, Hervé Godignon also believes in improving the world around him.
“I’m very happy, but I don’t know if I really deserve it,” he says of the honor. “Everybody can bring his little stone to make a big wall.”
Godignon twice organized show jumping competitions at his farm, incorporating several fundraising activities for JustWorld, including an auction, at the shows. He also attended JustWorld galas in Florida and in Deauville.
“I have good memories about all the galas,” he says. He won’t be able to attend this year’s event due to a scheduled knee replacement, but he will be there in spirit.
Godignon said his perspective and priorities have changed over time, in part due to his experiences with JustWorld and in part due to age. “I used to say that a man has different [times] in his life,” he says. “In the first one he learns; in the second part he tries to get something from it, and in the last one he should try to give back.”
He has some simple advice for young riders: “Do something,” he says. “Sometimes the horse world is like Disneyland, and there is another world outside. Just be conscious that there is something else somewhere else, and some people are not as lucky as we are.”
Godignon believes strongly in JustWorld’s mission of changing the world by breaking the cycle of poverty. “Be conscious that the misery in some countries creates big problems, not only in that country but everywhere with immigration, etc, so everybody should try to help people have a better life everywhere in the world,” he says. “This is the way [to avoid] what we see now; the misery can create terrorists for example. If everyone is more comfortable, it is a better world, because some people have nothing to lose, and that’s dangerous.”
He believes opportunities for better lives can be achieved through collective action, which JustWorld makes possible for those in the equestrian community and beyond. “If we can do something, these little things, if many people do it, that makes it a big thing,” he says. “The little water makes the big river. Stay conscious, and try to do what you can.”
If you’re a friend or fan of Hervé Godignon and want to join him in supporting JustWorld’s mission to break the cycle of poverty, create a custom congratulatory ad or join us at the gala, January 22, 2026 in Wellington, Florida.
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JustWorld International
Established in 2003, JustWorld International was created to connect equestrians with a direct way to help fracture the cycle of poverty through education, healthcare, and nutrition programs for children around the world. Ambassadors from more than forty countries have since committed to “Ride for the Cause” and transform the lives of children through equestrian sport. Envisioning a more just world, the nonprofit organization cultivates strategic, project partnerships in a collaborative approach to impact the lives of nearly 10,000 children around the globe on a daily basis.
To donate, become an Ambassador, or learn more about JustWorld, please visitwww.justworldinternational.org or @justworldinternational on Facebook and Instagram.
JustWorld International is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization in the United States and tax-deductible donations are accepted in the United States. JustWorld International has no political or religious affiliation.
