Inspiration

Over the past several years, I have often been asked how the idea of linking the equestrian world with that of development and humanitarian efforts arose. For some, the link is a stretch, while for others it seems non-existent. Fortunately for many, Jump for a Just World has been a real opportunity to do something concrete for those who are much less fortunate than we.

A Committed Equestrian

I spent the first twenty-two years of my life as a committed and ambitious equestrian athlete. From the age of five when I began competing in the pony hunters to my first International Grand Prix at sixteen, I worked every day to excel in my sport. The skills and lessons I learned as an equestrian athlete have provided a strong foundation for the humanitarian work I do today as the Executive Director of JustWorld International. As an equestrian, I learned to respect differences, whether they are in the person, method, or technique. I learned discipline and persistence. I learned humility because going from the top to the bottom is always just one small mistake away. I learned that when things go wrong, you have to get up, pull yourself together, and learn from your mistakes so that you can come out stronger and wiser for the next obstacle.

Changing Paths

At the age of twenty-three, I decided to make some radical changes in my life. I had reached my goals as an equestrian and believed the time had come for me to use my drive and motivation for another purpose. Under the auspices of the NGO Trickle Up, I headed to Honduras to build partnerships with local organizations and help with the reconstruction efforts after the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch. While I had to overcome the initial obstacle of not speaking Spanish, my biggest challenge was facing extreme poverty in this developing country. It was the first time in my life that I had been confronted with such misery. I was no longer in the privileged and protected environment of the equestrian world. I was no longer shielded from the human suffering faced by three quarters of the world’s population. I was in Latin America’s poorest country face-to-face with the most horrible forms of poverty. What a heart-wrenching experience it was to witness orphaned and abandoned children living on the streets in cardboard boxes, sniffing glue to “escape” their terrible reality, rummaging through garbage dumps to find something — anything — to eat, and begging or stealing money for the parents who had left them to fend for themselves. These children had no future, no hope, no way out. It is not surprising that so many of them ended up as prostitutes, perpetuating the cycle of unwanted children and risking their lives each day with the threat of infection by HIV/AIDS or other diseases.

The experiences I had in Honduras changed my life and reaffirmed my conviction that the time had come for me to change paths. I knew that I had to do whatever was in my power to help alleviate the terrible suffering of these children and to give them hope for a better life.

JustWorld International

The next few years were spent gaining firsthand experience with local and international NGOs. From the streets of Central America to Capitol Hill, I began to acquire a better understanding of both the root causes of extreme poverty as well as the solutions being proposed at a governmental level. It was very frustrating for me to realize that many organizations and governmental aid programs act as Band-Aids for the problems but do not attempt to go to their root. I began envisioning the possibility of founding my own organization that would be sustainable and facilitate long-term positive change.

My education and life experiences empowered me to go into the world and make a difference. However, I realized that not everyone had access to these opportunities. Giving other young people access to the opportunities that would allow them to take new initiatives for social justice became a driving force behind my idea to found a new type of NGO.

A cornerstone for JustWorld International became raising awareness and encouraging young people to make a positive difference in the world and then share that knowledge and experience with others to achieve a domino effect. Along with Hilary Betaille who both shared this vision, we founded JustWorld International in late 2002.

Bridging the Gap

In the back of my mind, one question remained: how could I bridge the gap between the equestrian world that is so dear to my heart and my new profession working to improve the lives of some of the world’s most underprivileged children? I wanted to give others in our privileged equestrian circle the opportunity to help change the lives of children who suffer daily. I wanted to give others the opportunity to witness what I had witnessed and then to experience the joy of bringing a bit of sunshine and hope to the life of just one child and many more when possible.

While many people told me I was crazy to think that my fellow equestrians would be interested in changing a world from which they were so far removed, I believed otherwise and chose to persevere. During my years as an equestrian, I met many compassionate, caring, and generous people who I believed, like myself, would want to make positive change in the world. Along with the trailblazing members of the Advisory Board, we decided to launch the Jump for a Just World initiative.

Our first idea was to bring together the JustWorld International Show Jumping Team, comprised of high-level compassionate equestrian athletes who wanted to make a difference. Their demonstrated integrity, leadership, and ethics would make them ideal ambassadors for JustWorld International and its efforts among equestrians. These athletes donate their time and either a percentage of their winnings or an annual donation to support JustWorld International’s efforts. In addition they serve as spokespeople, wear the colors of JustWorld, visit the project sites, and volunteer their time on a regular basis.

The Success of Jump for a Just World

From the start, Jump for a Just World proved that it was destined to be a success! In January 2004, JustWorld International’s first annual fundraiser targeted the equestrian community with a training show and raised nearly $100,000. Numerous professional riders approached me at this occasion because they wanted to become ambassadors for JustWorld International. I was also approached by Junior riders who wanted to create Juniors for a Just World to encourage equestrian youth to get involved. Stadium Jumping and the Winter Equestrian Festival provided us with the first opportunity to hold a Jump for a Just World competition and funding drive during the Nations’ Cup that spring.

In July on the other side of the Atlantic, the Jump for a Just World initiative was launched during the first edition of Jump’Eure, organized and hosted by Hervé Godignon. In addition to permitting us to raise funds and recruit new French ambassadors, Jump’Eure provided the venue for the French riders’ association, ACSOF, to officially endorse the Jump for a Just World initiative. Other national and international show organizers began stepping forward to partner with JustWorld in an effort to raise awareness and funds.

In less than a year, my dream of bridging the gap between equestrians and humanitarian efforts had become a reality. Athletes, advisors, sponsors, horse show partners, owners, and the general public have all been tremendously supportive and committed to making a difference. As of August 2008, we have 133 professional, junior and amateur ambassadors representing over 20 different countries. We have been accompanied by over 60 ambassadors and donors to visit our project sites to see for themselves where their donations are going, who is being helped, and the difference they are making. Over 50 International Show Jumping competitions across the globe have supported JustWorld in one form or another.

It has become more and more obvious that, by combining our forces and networks, we have the power to mobilize so many people, and together we can create a just world!