New Truck Transports Readers To Other Worlds With Asociación Compartir

When Miguel Ángel Matute opens the door of Asociación Compartir’s truck at a community center in San Antonio de Oriente, Honduras, children come running to meet him. Their families follow behind the children, quick to offer a drink, candy or a smile after his drive across the rugged terrain. 

“Every time I arrive with the mobile library, the love that parents and children have for this colorful project is reflected, showing that they are happy and willing to learn,” Matute said. “They wait for the time of fun, fantasy and reading with open arms, wanting to find books that make them smile or think positively, as well as educational games and puppets to dramatize the stories.”

The children help him set up chairs, tables, books, “receiving me with a warm hug, and [they say], ‘We already missed you, teacher!’ ”

Teachers are also glad to see him, he said, and the playful learning space leaves students inspired.

Thanks to a collaboration between JustWorld International, the Fédération Equestre Internationale, the Honduras Equestrian Federation and the generosity of the global equestrian community, Education on Wheels rolled into the new year with a new truck, a JMC Vigus diesel double cab 4x4, with more space to carry additional books and other items, such as platforms for theater, film, puppetry, crafts and digital learning sessions. The four-wheel drive makes navigating the remote terrain easier, with larger wheels and improved traction, extending the reach of Education on Wheels.

For students like Yeimy Nicoll Munguía, a fifth grader, that means more school supplies. Yeimy started attending Compartir when she was 5. “I really like participating in the library, where they support me in my homework,” she said. “They have also taught me to write stories, to have the habit of reading and to create drawings from my own imagination.”

In her free time, Yeimy likes to paint, draw and read. “When I was given the book bag during the pandemic, the book that interested me the most is called Caramelo,” she said. “I thank Asociación Compartir for the support it provides to all the boys and girls in my community.”

Compartir reaches more than 5,635 students, and its comprehensive approach to child welfare has become a model for other groups in Honduras. 

A New Need Arises

The need for such services grew in the 1990s, as a wave of neoliberalism swept Honduras and other Central American countries. Schools and other government services suffered massive funding cuts, amid a poverty level of 69.5 percent, primarily in rural areas. In 1991, migration from the countryside to the cities, especially in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, resulted in an alarming increase in the number of children living in the streets.

At that time, Asociación Compartir’s founder Rosa Nieto was working at the National Social Welfare Board (JNBS), coordinating a care program for children at risk in Tegucigalpa. With contacts from JNBS and a team of consultants from a French non-governmental organization, a study was carried out, showing a total of 2,000 boys and girls living on the street. This led to the creation of Asociación Compartir, a non-governmental and non-profit organization with a new approach to caring for children from their communities of origin in a comprehensive way: child, family and community.

The approach sought to tackle education, health, nutrition and therapy as well as bring awareness to children’s rights, prioritizing education over child labor and the responsibility of the family. This community model, pioneering at the time, has now become a model for various organizations and institutions at the national level.

For 20 years, Compartir’s Education on Wheels initiative has been traveling to communities in need. It currently serves 17 communities on the outskirts of Tegucigalpa and 20 communities in the rural area of San Antonio de Oriente, visiting each once a month.

The activities have changed over the years, in response to the interests of the boys and girls. The main objective is to promote appreciation for reading and learning. They offer creative writing workshops, talks on topics of interest, interactive activities related to books and technology, and attendance at cultural events, museums and presentations by local artists.

In risky environments, including during the COVID pandemic, books offer the opportunity to leave a child’s home and learn about other worlds and times via imagination. Delivery of reading and learning resources to communities that may not have easy access to physical libraries makes knowledge more accessible.

“By bringing books closer to places where people live, work or study, mobile libraries encourage the habit of reading and continuous learning,” Nieto said.

Students can choose a book from a traveling reading bag and enjoy it. After a week, they return it to the teacher, and the adventure begins in another home. Children are also exposed to music, art and literature and have the opportunity to participate in musical bands, youth concerts, inter-school choral groups, folk dances and art workshops.

If you’re interested in supporting children like Yeimy, ensuring they have the opportunity to learn, grow and explore different worlds, find out more about JustWorld’s work with Asociación Compartir and consider making a donation to support the delivery of books, snacks and other essential educational and cultural exposures, changing the trajectory of the lives of these children and their communities.

Graduation For New Equestrians At PIO

The 10 students from JustWorld’s partner school in Cambodia, People Improvement Organization (PIO), who attended the new, two-month training program at the Cambodian Equestrian Federation training center in Phnom Penh, graduated on June 17. Thanks to a Gender Equality Grant from FEI Solidarity, they learned horse care, facility management and basic riding skills, setting them up for careers in equestrian sport as it expands in the region. Some of the students will be continuing their studies and specializing in chosen aspects of equine care, and a new cohort will begin later this year.

Alumni Profile: Kira Kerkorian
Her experiences as a JustWorld Ambassador inspired her journey to philanthropy.

Kira Kerkorian will never forget her first time visiting Guatemala as a JustWorld Ambassador. The 2015 trip to El Patojismo, the school and medical clinic founded by Juan Pablo Romero Fuentes, impacted her life trajectory.

“Having lived experience of doing good in the community was positively impactful,” Kira, 26, said. “The trip is actually what made me want to work in the nonprofit sector as a career.”

With the goal of helping the disadvantaged on a systemic level, Kira attended the University of California, Los Angeles. She earned a bachelor's degree in public affairs––an umbrella for public policy, urban planning and social welfare––in 2021. 

“I have been lucky to intern at some great organizations,” Kira said. “I have been honing skills to raise funds for nonprofits.”

Kira went on to earn a master’s degree in nonprofit leadership at the University of Pennsylvania and is currently working toward another master’s degree in public administration at New York University. 

“My short-term goal is to complete my master’s and work with organizations to grow my skills as a fundraiser,” Kira said. “My long-term goal is to have my own foundation, providing educational opportunities in underserved communities. I also want to consult nonprofits to optimize social impact initiatives. Additionally, I would love to get back to riding and competing.” 

While Kira’s Guatemala trip may have inspired her professional pursuits, she learned the value of education and philanthropy from her parents. She’s worked diligently to balance her academic, humanitarian and equestrian pursuits. 

“I’ve completed a lot of homework in planes, trains, and between rounds at horse shows,” Kira said. “It can be tough to juggle friends, family, the equestrian side of things, and life in general. Being organized and regulating stress are important skills for me. I live by my Google Calendar and try to meditate most days.” 

Horses have been a big part of Kira’s life since age three, when she attended a birthday party that featured pony rides. She found a passion in show jumping and competed up to the CSI3* level before taking a step back from international sport in 2017. Kira’s love of horses and philanthropy led her to JustWorld International in 2012. 

“I naturally gravitated towards an organization that combines my favorite things,” Kira said. “I remember specifically being really impressed by [JustWorld’s] projects. I found their [Guatemala] initiative to be a wonderfully positive contribution to the space.”

One of Kira’s most memorable contributions as a JustWorld Ambassador was participating in the 2014 JustWorld Ambassador Challenge, which raised over $15,000 for the children JustWorld supports. 

“The Ambassador Team Challenge was special to me,” Kira said. “The challenge brought together a team of Ambassadors working to raise money for their particular projects. The value of good teamwork shone through; we supported each other towards good-spirited goals.”

To the equestrians interested in giving back to their communities, Kira recommends getting involved in a way that feels most organic and impactful to you.

“Get involved in whichever way you find joyful,” Kira said. “No donation or volunteer effort is too small. Get curious and reach out to people and organizations. Subscribe to mailing lists and follow Instagram accounts. The equestrian community is a unique network of passionate people. JustWorld is a great resource.”

Kira appreciates the direct impact she’s witnessed as a result of JustWorld’s efforts. “I have seen firsthand the smiles JustWorld generates in the world; these are moments I won’t ever forget,” she said. “The money you are raising is used well in service of real change. And your time would be well spent joining with JustWorld for charitable works.” 

If you’d also like to experience the difference you can make as an Ambassador–and maybe change your life as well–sign up today to join us.

How I #RideForTheCause: Maude Boulanger-Bouchard

For more than a decade, trainer Maude Boulanger-Bouchard has been riding for the cause, spearheading fundraisers big and small and spreading awareness of JustWorld to equestrians in Quebec, Ontario and beyond.

From collecting pennies to organizing horseless horse shows, she’s been creative and committed. 

“When I went to university my aim was to go into human rights,” she said. But the horses called her back into Centre Hippique Anemo, the business her family runs in Mirabel, Quebec. “JustWorld is a way for me to reconcile those two interests.”

She’s especially drawn to the fact that JustWorld’s projects empower generations of families and entire communities. In Guatemala, El Patojismo, which she’s visited a few times, “gives those kids tools for life rather than just pays for something–it educates and teaches leadership, and it’s an opportunity they can carry on and pass on for generations.”

Some of the fundraisers Maude’s helped organize have been small–such as collecting pennies when Canada decided to take the coin out of circulation. But others have taken over the entire showgrounds. She fondly remembers a show in Quebec that offered a JustWorld horseless horse show one afternoon. 

“The in-gate was looking for people, and everyone was horseless horse showing,” she said with a laugh, recalling 350 participants. “We had ribbons and really good prizes. The trainers, riders, parents, were all at the horseless horse show. The show was a final, and everyone works all year to aim for it. But they were so excited about the horseless class, they forgot about the horse show. Everybody joined in; the trainers were videoing. It was like everybody was there–it pulled away so much from the horse show that in subsequent years, they organized it after the horse show because it became too popular.”

After the main horseless class, they often had a puissance, with jump crew participating as well.

Other efforts that Maude, 38, and her students have done include a snow cone stand, cupcake fundraisers, solicitation of donations via a mini horse that would stroll the showgrounds with a purple blanket, and movie nights. More recently, she’s organized a back number fundraiser at the Ottawa shows, with exhibitors making a donation in exchange for a JustWorld-branded number. As an extra incentive, everyone who participates is entered to win drawings for donated prizes. 

“The goal would be with back numbers, to raise awareness and to have a few ambassadors sign on,” she said. “If we can get five to 10 kids, and they become ambassadors in the next years, then all the better.”

When she competed in the jumpers, Maude would wear a JustWorld coat, and she used to braid her horse in purple. She displays a JustWorld drapery when she sets up her tack room at shows.

“If you can raise awareness enough, maybe it becomes generational for riders to give back,” she said. “We’re lucky as riders, and that’s what I loved about Juan Pablo and his project [El Patojismo]. He didn't have a lot, but he made something, little by little. That’s what I’ve done with my business too.”

Maude welcomes riders to reach out to her if they’re interested in getting involved or want information or guidance on hosting a fundraiser. 

“My biggest recommendation to anyone thinking of getting involved is do it,” she said. “You're going to get a great sense of community, of purpose. I’d be happy to answer any questions. We get caught up doing our own thing sometimes, but by reaching out, we can get that much further. The spirit of JustWorld is putting together a lot of people who can each be a piece of the puzzle and help give back.”

For more information about the Ambassador program, or for help with fundraising ideas or execution, reach out to us.

AMBASSADOR PROJECT TRIP: GUATEMALA 

Plans are in the works for a trip to El Patojismo in November. Please email Beth if you’re interested in participating and learning more.

Hagen Future Champions

The Hagen Future Champions show in Germany hosted eight Adopt A Project youth philanthropy activities on June 12-16, offering young riders the chance to explore JustWorld’s mission, their own priorities, and learn more about needs in underserved communities. 🇩🇪💜🌎

JustWorld thanks the Rein family for their generosity to support this activation, all the winning teams for their participation, and the Kasselmann family for their partnership and invitation to be present at such an exceptional venue.

Meet Roster, Your Go-To Ambassador Resource

Hi Ambassadors,

Tori Repole here, your Community Engagement Associate at JustWorld International. I’d love to take a moment to introduce you to Roster, our fantastic new Ambassador platform.

You first met Roster when you signed up to become a JustWorld Ambassador. Consider it your hub for all things community engagement within JustWorld. When you log into Roster, you’ll see your dashboard home page, which overviews your Milestones, Rewards, Campaigns and Actions features.

Milestones

The Milestones section shows you how close you are to earning Bronze, Silver or Gold REWARDS. Yes, you read that correctly. A little friendly competition makes giving back even more fun, right?! 

• Bronze Reward: 300 points, 25% off in our online store.

• Silver Reward: 700 points, 50% off.

• Gold Reward: 1,000 points, 75% off.

Wondering how to earn points? Enter Campaigns and Actions

Campaigns and Actions

Roster’s Campaigns and Actions let you earn points by completing tasks created by the JustWorld team. Campaigns change monthly and are available for a limited time, while Actions are ongoing opportunities you can do anytime, anywhere to help support JustWorld’s mission.

Beyond these features, did you know that Roster also has Channel message boards where you can connect and brainstorm with fellow Ambassadors? If you’d like to start a channel for your region or collaborate on fundraising and other initiatives, let us know, and we can set it up for you.

I’m looking forward to seeing all of you on Roster! Please feel free to reach out with any questions or suggestions.

- Tori 

Upcoming Events

We encourage you to attend and support the following shows and events, which are a part of our JustWorld Family.

Ambassador Webinar 

Who to Watch at The Paris Olympics, presented by Catie Staszak Media 

1:30 pm EST, 7:30 pm CET

July 11

Join us for the first in a series of webinars for our Ambassadors. FOR JULY: We will skip our monthly Ambassador meeting to encourage everyone to make time for the July 11 Webinar.

Join broadcast analyst and journalist Catie Staszak, who will be working for NBC as a data analyst during this summer’s Olympic Games, as she breaks down all you need to know about show jumping’s fan favorites and rising stars headed to compete in Paris.

As we plan future webinars, let us know who you’d like to hear from and what you’d like to learn or share, and we will work to arrange it!

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, during 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.

July 22: Charity Golf Scramble benefitting JustWorld International at LochenHeath Golf Club in Traverse City, Michigan. As part of JustWorld’s partnership with Traverse City Horse Shows and the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, the show is hosting a golf tournament to benefit JustWorld the week of the North American Youth Championships. See an array of sponsorship opportunities, or sign up to play!