About Lead Up:
Lead-Up International is a ground-breaking approach to reducing violence by helping vulnerable youth discover calm and peaceful leadership through workshops with horses.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, the most perilous risk for children in Guatemala is exposure to violence, either as a victim or perpetrator. Lead-Up strives to create peaceful leaders, thus reducing violence in communities. Participants discover that aggression and violence are neither necessary nor effective.
Lead-Up partners with NGOs that strive to improve the welfare of at-risk youth in order to prevent violence and improve gender equality, as well as to improve equine welfare. Participants are welcomed into a compassionate and non-judgmental environment – far removed from the violence, abuse, addiction, and neglect that they often experience at home.
About their Work:
Participants are taught to control their body language, breathing, and emotions when interacting with horses. Horses are social animals that seek leadership, and within minutes of a participant demonstrating calm and assertive leadership, the horse willingly chooses that leadership and walks towards the participant – the moment of “Join-Up®” pioneered by the world famous Horse Whisperer, Monty Roberts. It’s a powerful and life-changing experience, with new skills that can then be related to the participants’ lives: improved emotional regulation and self-esteem and the development of peaceful leadership abilities. Clinical psychologists are on hand at every step, and further coaching and therapy is provided for those who need special attention.
In order to be able to help more at-risk youth and break the cycle of violence in Guatemala, Lead-Up is holding a fundraising event on April 9th at La Azotea in Jocotenango from 5 to 8 PM. There will be food, music, an auction, and lots of fun. Tickets are available for Q450. Whether or not you can attend, you can also donate through the Join-Up webpage and designate the funds for Lead-Up International.
Contacto:
Facebook: /LeadUpInternational
Web: join-up.org
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 5651-6404
Place: Calle del Cementerio Final, Jocotenango, Sacatepéquez
