Journey’s End Stables, situated along Old Sir Lowry’s Pass Road, are expanding their geographical service horizons, by forming a partnership with an organisation on the other side of the world, Asha Nepal, based in Nepal.
For the first time ever, Nepalese victims of human trafficking will be exposed to the positive impacts of life skills, trusting that horses can uniquely convey their healing energies, assisting victims to overcome their past and help them pursue a future with confidence and self-belief.
Owner of Journey’s End Suzelle Brits who, for the past 15 years, has run the stables and provided an array of horse-related activities, said one of the core aspects of the stables’ services is the use of horses to address life skills, build trust and overcome personal and mental blocks.
She said: “The specific programme is provided by Christiana Ben-Oved, a social worker and trauma counsellor, who has developed programmes that cover stable relationships, life skills and social mentorship. Each programme is custom made to specific needs and is adaptable accordingly.”
Brits explained that in 2018, while hiking out in the Himalaya Mountains, part of the tourist activities included a visit to the Sisterhood of Survivors, a charity with the aim of empowering survivors of human trafficking. The tourism initiative trains survivors in tourism and guiding, both of which create meaningful employment and raise awareness of the issue of trafficking in Nepal among a wider audience.
“My husband and I were just touched by the place, and on returning to South Africa I just couldn’t get it out of my mind. I wanted to help and contribute to the well-being of the Nepalese people,” Brits said. “I soon realised that maybe the use of horses will be just the catalyst they need to further enhance their plight. I started doing some research, and in 2023 I met Bimala Thapa, CEO of Asha Nepal in that country. This is a small organisation in Kathmandu devoted to preventing the trafficking and abuse of girls, and caring for survivors. I shared the unique method of teaching life skills with the assistance of horses with Thapa.”
She explained that using horses as a tool to teach life skills was a completely unknown concept in Nepal. “Bimala was so excited about this, having fond childhood memories of interacting and riding horses, that she immediately delegated two social workers, Shashikala Rai and Sudarshan Thapa to visit Journeys End Stables to learn more about how to use horses in their own existing life skills programs”.
The two social workers arrived about three weeks ago and have been working daily with horses.
“To put in perspective, they hadn’t interacted a horse in their lives, and on the first morning it was the first time ever that they touched a horse. By that afternoon they were riding. So the progress has been great, but more distinctly evident is that the horses immediately started making a difference in their lives, and they have learnt to treat horses with affection and love. The programme, although still in its infancy, is so far very successful. The two Nepalese social workers have returned home, and we are in the process of assisting them in obtaining their own horses and a small stable in Nepal.
“A horse can’t be false; it will bring things out of you that you didn’t know you had, it can turn weaknesses into strength. It’s difficult to explain, but is more of an experience. And that’s what we want to share. We want the Nepalese to use this experience and share it with their colleagues in Nepal, to experience what we experience – the wonders of using a horse as a tool for life skills and progress. Hopefully this can be something extra for them to get in front in life, and maybe even it’ll become part of their country’s offerings, the way it is here. As Winston Churchill said, ‘there’s something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.”
She added follow-up programmes were being planned and the journey is exciting, fulfilling and very close to her heart.
According to Thapa the experience taught that horses are far ore than animals.
“We will implement what we have learnt and believe the use of horses for life skills can change the lives of trafficked victims forever.”
Journey’s End has 20 horses and has various offerings for groups, children and corporate team building. It also works extensively with children in outlaying areas, thanks to sponsorships and donations.
