MAY 2024 NEWS

PIO Students Embark On New Training Program

Ten students from JustWorld’s partner school People Improvement Organization (PIO) arrived at The Genius Resort, the new Cambodian Equestrian Federation training center in Phnom Penh, to begin a program teaching horse care and equestrian facility management. The opportunity, funded by a Gender Equality Grant from FEI Solidarity to the Cambodian Equestrian Federation, offers a chance for young women to be involved in the sport’s expansion in the region and to move into a career that provides a good living and potential for international travel.

“The financial support from FEI Solidarity will go a long way to improving the know-how required for equestrian activities to grow and thrive in our country, while giving these young women the opportunity to make significant economic contributions to society,” CEF Secretary General and architect of the training programme H.R.H. Nanda-Dévi Norodom said in a FEI press release, adding, “An added bonus of the programme is that grooming provides a direct contact with the horse and helps to develop personal confidence, responsibility and autonomy. So, we’re also helping these young women develop the necessary soft skills they require to succeed in their chosen field of work.”

JustWorld, in partnership with PIO, provides stipends to the girls to enable them to afford the time to train.

New Truck Advances Opportunities For Education On Wheels

A new four-wheel drive truck is empowering Asociación Compartir in Honduras to expand its work in San Antonio de Oriente. The Education on Wheels initiative, funded in partnership with the Fédération Equestre Internationale, brings learning–with books, arts, and cultural programs–directly to children in local community centers, often in places where they can not attend schools. 

“The promotion of reading and writing from early childhood represents an investment that contributes to the development of our children and empowers them to know and transform their own reality, build possible worlds and expand their communication processes,” said a statement from Compartir. “A child who reads will be an adult who thinks and transforms!”

We'll Miss

Maria Concepcion FuentesPerez de Romero

More than 17 years ago, Maria Concepcion Fuentes Perez de Romero, mother of El Patojismo founder Juan Pablo Romero Fuentes, opened her home in Jocotenango to help realize her son’s vision for the project that would turn into El Patojismo, JustWorld’s partner project in Guatemala. A visit in those early days from JustWorld Founder and President Jessica Newman and Ambassador Juan Andres Rodriguez, an Olympic rider for Guatemala, launched JustWorld’s partnership with the project.

This spring, on March 22, Maria passed away after a brief illness.

Juan Pablo described his mother as his best friend and hero, and he credited Maria with believing in the project enough to give her home to the cause.

“It was the most beautiful and special act of love coming from my mom and my dad,” said Juan Pablo. “They gave me the entire house, but it was because of my mother. My mother always was by my side, and she trusted me a lot and gave me the confidence and the strength that I still have to survive, to walk in this world and to fight for my dreams.” 

Without Maria, he said, there wouldn’t be El Patojismo. “She will be forever the reason for my mission,” he said. 

In his parents’ home, where Juan Pablo has been taking care of his father, he draws inspiration from all that reminds him of his mother. “She has become my eternal spring,” he said. “Everywhere I look is my mom, which means that the energy and the essence of our mission is now even stronger and more serious because now she’s taking care of me in a different dimension. She's providing me more energy, more clarity to keep doing what I do, to serve others. Now my mission has a face, and it’s my mother’s face. So I will never stop helping kids, helping the poor, helping people in need because that’s now my lifestyle for the rest of my days.”

Frances B. Steinwedell

Longtime JustWorld supporter Frances B. Steinwedell passed away on April 8 after a lifetime of involvement in horse sports. Fran was a winning rider and owner of some of show jumping’s top horses, including Starman, who helped the U.S. team win silver at the 1988 Olympic Games with Anne Kursinski, and Eros, who helped the U.S. team win silver again in 1996. Fran was a founding member of the American Grandprix Association and involved in the sport’s governance, including with the U.S. Equestrian Team and USET Foundation. She was inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame in 2017. Her daughter, Francie Steinwedell, remains one of JustWorld’s most committed Ambassadors.

How I #RideForTheCause: Zara Boyd

For Zara Boyd, a JustWorld Ambassador since 2021, an internship with Equipad provided the perfect opportunity to combine her love of horses, design expertise, and passion for giving back.

During the internship, Zara, who’s finishing her junior year at Parsons School of Design in New York City, helped create a saddle pad made of recycled water bottles. The pad, called “My Boy Blue,” was inspired by her horse “Oreo,” a Hanoverian with a wall eye who shows under the name of Monks Diarados Boy.

“I designed it with sparkle and the exact same colors as my horse’s eye, because he’s really special and cool,” Zara said.

When Equipad offered her a portion of the sales, Zara asked if the money could go to JustWorld instead. 

“[Equipad is] a good company, making sustainable products, and they care about the ethics side of riding and fashion,” Zara said. 

The first 100 orders of the pad also came with stickers Zara designed, with sayings on them about being lucky and grateful. 

“I have a necklace that says ‘lucky,’ and I had a bracelet that said ‘grateful,’” Zara said. “No matter how bad your day is, we’re lucky to be around horses.”

As a fashion and design student, she enjoyed seeing the process of the product development, design and marketing. “The pad sold out really quickly; it was really successful,” she said. 

And she presented JustWorld with a check for $1,200.

A Love Of Horses

Zara started riding when she was 13, in her native Great Britain. When she got her own horse, she loved him so much, “I didn’t trot for like a month because I didn’t want to kick him,” she said with a laugh.

Today, Zara, 23, has found a passion for showing as well as horses, but she still finds time in the barn, with the animals, to be her greatest love.

“I owe a lot to my horses; I love them like my family. I’m not someone who really goes for ribbons. I love ribbons; they’re very fun, but I’m just happy to be here,” she said while competing at the Miami LGCT in April. “It’s a privilege to ride at shows like this, and I try to appreciate it as much as I can.”

A few years ago, that love of horses—in particular a mare called Darcy—helped her recover from an eating disorder.

Now retired, Darcy lives in New Jersey. “She’s done more for me than I can ever say,” Zara said. “That little horse saved my life, she really did.”

Zara’s love of horses grew into a love of showing after she started to train at Lionshare Farm with Peter Leone and Paige Source more than two years ago. She never imagined she’d be bold enough to jump at 1.35m level and credits Leone’s patient, precise training for giving her the skills and confidence she needed to move up from 2’6” to two-stars.

 “He’s changed my riding career completely,” Zara said.

A Commitment and A Community

When she arrived in the United States at the age of 18, Zara didn’t know anyone, but she quickly found a community through her involvement with JustWorld.

“There are a lot of like-minded people who care about giving back, a lot of young riders my age, and I’ve been able to meet people and be part of a community that cares about helping people and cares about horses,” she said. “I like being an Ambassador and telling people about JustWorld. It makes me very proud. I love seeing updates of all the projects and where the money goes.”

She said the experience has helped her be a better communicator. “It’s been nice to learn to take initiative and develop leadership skills,” she said. “JustWorld is a great way for me to recognize how much money you’re putting into [showing] versus what this money can do for someone in another community.”

She hopes to someday visit one of JustWorld’s projects. “My entire childhood, my dad used to take me to developing places, to visit projects and villages,” she said. “It’s important to give back when you have the ability to, and I want to continue doing that and help in any way that I can.”

This winter in Wellington, Florida, she enjoyed a group of college-aged JustWorld Ambassadors, and she encourages other riders to sign up for the program.

“It’s a wonderful thing to be a part of,” she said. “It’s very rewarding and so easy to join. It takes five or 10 minutes to fill out the form and feel like you’re a part of an organization doing something for people around the world and part of the JustWorld community. I’ve made so many friends from being an Ambassador.”

Learn more about the Ambassador program and sign up here.

Want to design your own fundraiser, using your unique skills and connections? Reach out to Beth Rasin for ideas, help and other resources.

END OF SEASON EVENTS

Fun on the Field

Ambassadors Hailey Hak and Corinne Sweeney conceptualized a Fun on the Field youth networking event to close out the winter season in Wellington.

Held March 29 at Belle Herbe Farm, the event encouraged existing and prospective Ambassadors to network and learn about JustWorld. Featured were a bounce house, field and board games, a bracelet-making station, and delicious food and beverages. 

“JustWorld is a very family-inclusive organization,” Founder and President Jessica Newman said. “We love to raise awareness and get kids involved [so they can] learn that even they can make a difference at a very young age. It’s an event that really brings families together and shows them how they can participate in JustWorld. No matter what age or what sector of the industry they’re in, there is something for everyone.” 

A special thank you to JustWorld Ambassadors Joelle and Azalia Lavigne, who sponsored the bounce house and bracelets. To Christy's Bakery, who sponsored the delicious JustWorld-themed cookies. And to JustWorld Intern Lola Mulliez, who assisted in planning and executing the event. 

Asado 

Fifteen years ago, Maria Newman wanted to find a way to thank JustWorld International's supporters, donors and friends. Thus, the annual JustWorld Community Asado, held on the field of their Belle Herbe Farm in Wellington, Florida, was born. The tradition continued this year on March 24. 

“At one of the first Asados, one of the girls in the team said, ‘Maybe we could sell [tickets],’ and I said, ‘Nope,’ ” Maria said. “I took the microphone at the time, and I said, ‘The only thing we ask you is to leave your wallet at home.’ It’s been more and more successful, and this [year’s Asado] was really the best. So many people told me it was such a nice party.”

The Newmans extend a heartfelt thank you to Pablo Calandroni for bringing the flavors of Argentinian cuisine to Wellington, to Tom Blake for his live music that has been a staple of the Asado since its inception, and to Hector and Mireya Cano for their dedication to ensuring the event's success. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

JustWorld will be partnering with the following shows this summer, with activations and Adopt-A-Project opportunities. Join us if you can!

St. Gallen CSIO5*

(Switzerland)
May 31-June 2

The top-10 show jumping teams in the world will meet to compete in St. Gallen, including Sweden, the reigning Olympic and World champions; the United States, silver medalists from the 2021 Olympic Games, and Belgium, reigning bronze Olympic medalists. They’ll join the Netherlands, Great Britain, Ireland and Brazil, plus Germany, which holds the record for Nations Cup wins, France, and Switzerland, Nations Cup defending champions.

In addition to the CSIO, there will be young horse classes and five national classes in the St. Gallen arena.

Hagen Future Champions

(Germany)
June 11-16

Hof Kasselmann hosts this competition for young riders in dressage and jumping, with Nations Cups for pony riders, children, juniors and young riders. JustWorld will present the winning teams with Adopt A Project activations, to spread awareness of the work and the needs of communities it serves around the world.

Called “the Aachen of Youth,” Hagen Future Champions has helped advance the careers of many young riders, who’ve gone on to become Olympic and World champions.

North American Youth Championships at Great Lakes Equestrian Festival

(Michigan)
July 30-August 4

Morrissey Management Group’s Great Lakes Equestrian Festival returns again this year as the host site for the North American Youth Championships for dressage and jumping at Flintfields Horse Park, with the event taking place on Week 5 of the six-week circuit in Traverse City, Michigan.

Offering team and individual championships, the event enables young riders to represent their country and develops future international team riders.

JustWorld will be presenting the winning teams with Adopt A Project choices as an opportunity to gain exposure to the need for philanthropy and to examine their own priorities.

ROAD TO PARIS: Call for Photos

Are you campaigning for a spot at this summer’s Olympics? Or attending the Olympics as a volunteer? Let us know, and we’ll follow along and support you every step of the way.

JustWorld Ambassador Pedro Cebulkawill be the ringmaster, and JWI LDP Panelist Guilherme Jorge will be the show jumping technical delegate.

We’d love to get an overview of all our Ambassadors’ involvement in Paris this summer!

Ambassadors:
Please Register for 2024!!

JustWorld’s Global Ambassador Program was relaunched to kick off 2024, offering equestrians a more interactive experience and many new features revealed throughout the year. The new application should only take a few minutes to complete. If you've not already done so, please enroll for 2024.

Ambassadors can be anyone in the equestrian community—riders, officials, show staff, owners or fans! So if you know of anyone who might be interested, please let us know!

Thank you to our Ambassadors who have already enrolled in the new system for 2024!

Horses or tack for sale, home and stable rentals, clinics, camps, jobs or internships wanted or needed—let us know what you need to share with the community, and we’ll add it to the newsletter.This is your community! Contact Beth Rasin 

Please be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Linkedin, and share our news! And tag us on your posts!
#JustWorld #RideForTheCause #JustWorldInternational

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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, nutrition, and leadership programs benefiting 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. JustWorld has united the international equestrian community and become the Official Charity Partner of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the world governing body of equestrian sport. Envisioning a more just world, the non-profit organization cultivates strategic, project partnerships in a collaborative approach to impact the lives of nearly 10,000 children around the globe annually.

To donate, become an Ambassador, or learn more about JustWorld, please visit www.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.