“We Are the World,” as the song goes, and international equestrian champion Jessica Newman is on a mission is to make it a more just world.
Taking the focus and determination she brought to Grand Prix jumping, Newman founded JustWorld International in 2003 to connect resources and awareness from the equestrian community with education, nutrition, health, and vocational programs in the developing world.
In Jessica’s words, “JustWorld helps children who live in poverty that is unimaginable to many people in the developed world.” More than 90% of individual donations go directly to projects in the poorest communities in Brazil, Cambodia, Honduras, Kenya, Mexico, and Senegal, where JustWorld works with community organizations serving children who fall beyond the reach of larger scale humanitarian programs.
JustWorld’s fund-raising and awareness-building strategies are both creative and contagious. At prestigious competitions like the Winter Equestrian Festival, the USEF Pony Finals, and the Hampton Classic, kids of all ages compete over a course of mini-jumps in JustWorld’s popular Horseless Horse Shows. Or perhaps you’ve seen the beautiful, signature blue hunt coats worn by JustWorld Ambassador riders? From talented junior/amateur riders to Olympic medalists, the JustWorld Ambassadors pledge prize money, personal resources, and proceeds from clinics and other appearances to the JustWorld cause.
A key focus for Newman is connecting young riders with the opportunity to work for change and we think she’s done a brilliant job of making it cool to care. On the West Coast, for example, two notable junior riders, Sophie Simpson and Maclay Regional winner Cayla Richards, have recently taken on a project to raise $9,000 for a sports program in Honduras.
Just like the “We Are the World” single in 1985, the equestrian community needed Jessica Newman and JustWorld to remind us that people seemingly so far apart can be brought much, much closer together than we think. For more information and to contribute to JustWorld International, visit www.justworldinternational.org.
Also consider:
Wearing your support on your sleeve with a Joules JustWorld Polo!
Taking a volunteer trip with JustWorld to one of their project countries!
Photo: JustWorld Ambassador Erynn Ballard, photo by Kenny Kraus
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
There is hope for the world and it lies in this generation. I say good job to this young ladies parents and good job to her. Horses can build charactor
Quite inspiring! What a wonderful way to give back and set an example for the rest of us!