The JustWorld delegation visits Los Patojos, its project site in Guatemala.
Participants in the Horseless Horse Show receive their ribbons.

November 24, 2009 – Guatemala – JustWorld International celebrated the one-year anniversary of its partnership with the Guatemala Horse Festival of Cortijo during the two-week horse show held November 11-15 and 18-22. JustWorld International is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of impoverished children in the developing world.

In addition to the horse show, JustWorld and its 20-person delegation of ambassadors and supporters visited the Los Patojos project site which JustWorld has also been working with for the past year. In 12 months, the Los Patojos community center has grown by leaps and bounds, thanks in large part to generous donations from JustWorld supporters.

The JustWorld delegation included representatives from Canada, Germany, Guatemala, the United States and even Honduras as one of the first five Rider Ambassadors, Titi Mills, traveled to Guatemala. Two other Honduran Junior Rider Ambassadors, Adriana Sierra and Tiffany Molina, were joined by American Junior Rider Ambassador, Brianne Link, and her mother, Linda. Brianne and Linda were making their second trip to Guatemala, having also been a part of the delegation in the spring. In May, Brianne donated $1,500, all of which she had raised herself, to complete the Cultural Center at Los Patojos. During this visit, Brianne was able to see the difference her donation had made – the cultural center, used for art classes, drama, and music, now has a roof as well as lights for evening performances. In fact, it has already been the site of two cultural nights, bringing together more than 100 community members for children’s recitals.

A medical clinic, complete with medical supplies and an examining table to service 150 children, has also been opened at Los Patojos thanks to JustWorld funding. Funds raised during the JustWorld project site visit in May have been put to use, creating a lunch program for more than 80 children. During this most recent visit, members of the JustWorld delegation were able to lend a hand in the community kitchen, preparing healthy food such as pasta, vegetables, and chicken. The delegation also visited the new Youth Center, housed in a second building and focused on the needs of teenagers.

During this trip, Brianne Link made another donation of $2,500 to Los Patojos earmarked for scholarships so that the children can attend school. In 2008, 45 children benefitted from scholarships and it is projected that, with Brianne’s donation as well as the generous support of other donors, up to 95 children will be able to pursue their education this year.

More fundraising for Los Patojos took place during the Guatemala Horse Festival of Cortijo, which will supplement the scholarship program, salaries for teachers, the community kitchen, and the youth and cultural centers.

Now in its seventh year, the Guatemala Horse Festival of Cortijo is organized by JustWorld Rider Ambassador Juan Andres Rodriguez and his family, and brings together competitors from throughout Latin America. During the horse show, a silent auction was held and featured items ranging from a clinic with 2008 Olympian Juan Andres Rodriguez to website design. JustWorld also benefitted from a Calcutta on the Nations’ Cup team competition, won by the home side from Guatemala, and competitors were able to make a donation to JustWorld directly on their horse show entry forms. The ever-popular Horseless Horse Show saw children and adults alike competing on foot over human-sized obstacles, all in the spirit of raising funds for JustWorld and its local project site partner, Los Patojos.

JustWorld delegates were also able to support Los Patojos by buying items from the women’s craft cooperative, and the children are now making JustWorld bracelets, which will be available for purchase during the 2010 Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL, with all proceeds going back to Los Patojos.

Once again, the latest trip to Guatemala proved to be an overwhelming success. The JustWorld movement is gaining momentum in Latin America as many show organizers look to follow Juan Andres Rodriguez’s lead by raising funds in their own countries to benefit local projects. JustWorld wishes to extend special thanks to Juan Andres Rodriguez, Rodolfo Godoy, Luis Morales, Mabell Velásquez and Anna Christina Alvarez for all the help support they extended to the JustWorld delegation, as well as the generous sponsorship of Hotel Vista Real.

In total, approximately $5,000 in funding was raised for Los Patojos initiatives during the visit. While visiting the Los Patojos project site allowed the JustWorld Ambassadors and supporters to see how their donations are directly benefitting the children, it is also possible to support the children of Los Patojos through the ‘Adopt a Project’ program. For example, $92 will allow a child to attend school for a year while a donation of $182 per month will pay the salary of doctors and nurses in the medical program. For more information, please visit www.justworldinternational.org and see the link on the homepage.

Founded in 2002 by former grand prix competitor Jessica Newman, JustWorld International has worked to bring together the equestrian community and others with the goal of improving the lives of disadvantaged children in the developing world. With show jumping riders around the world signing up to become JustWorld Rider Ambassadors, Newman has mobilized some of the sport's biggest names towards supporting JustWorld’s projects in Brazil, Cambodia, Guatemala, Honduras, and Kenya. There are currently 243 Rider Ambassadors from 30 different countries, ranging from nine-year-old pony riders to Olympic medalists, who help bring attention to JustWorld International’s cause.

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. For more information on JustWorld International and its upcoming fundraising events, please visit www.justworldinternational.org.