A Tribute To Queen Elizabeth II
My name is Katie Cunningham and I’m the founder of Lead-Up International; a programme that strives to reduce violence by supporting youth to become peaceful leaders in their communities. Lead-Up got its start in Guatemala, in 2014, and since then workshops have taken place in 9 countries, with more regular workshops in Guatemala, the USA and the UK.
As an established 501c3, Lead-Up is becoming increasingly well known and respected as an effective and replicable model for breaking cycles of violence and poverty, preventing conflict escalation and building peace.
It really is no exaggeration to say that Lead-Up exists as a direct consequence of the certificate that Queen Elizabeth awarded me with in 2012. I received the acknowledgement due to my efforts to reduce violence in the training of horses in Guatemala, where I live, thanks to Monty Roberts’ nomination, and to whom I am eternally grateful. But in honesty, I really didn’t feel that I’d done much to deserve such an honour.
And so, on the day of the ceremony at the Guards Polo Club, on 24th June, 2012, at Windsor Great Park, I presented Monty with another idea. I asked him for his approval to use his methods in an attempt to shift attitudes and behaviour towards non-violence amongst horse handlers and owners in rural Guatemala. He approved, and the idea for Lead-Up was born.
The Queen believed that Montys’ concepts could change lives. We designed a programme with Montys’ concepts at the core, a programme that could have the greatest impact and outreach through a systematized and evaluated methodology. To date, well over 500 youths at-risk of the plethora of problems attached to violence and marginalisation have taken part in Lead-Up workshops, and through them transformed their lives and impacted their communities. The impact of this has echoed in thousands of people who have been indirectly involved and positively affected by the programme and its transformative effects.
Through specialised exercises that include interactions with horses, and specifically through the Join-UpⓇ experience, youths learn to manage all levels of their non-verbal communication, regulate their emotions and cultivate their peaceful leadership. Through these concepts the young people discover that violence is never the answer and that peaceful leadership is possible, powerful and transformative.
I know that Her Majesty was interested in Lead-Up because every so often Monty would ask for a progress report that he could personally share with her, after which he would convey to me her enthusiasm for the programme and for its growth.
In 2015 Monty invited me to attend a very special event at the Royal Mews in collaboration with the Brooke charity. The Queen was not expected to attend, however she unexpectedly chose to leave the Chinese Delegation that she was receiving in the palace and arrived, practically unannounced just as Monty was about to demonstrate his Join-Up methods to the guests.
Monty spoke of our work here in Guatemala, and the biggest surprise of the day was when the Queen requested I join her, as she was about to leave; she then asked me all about our progress and plans for Lead-Up.
It was such a thrill and such an honour, and I impulsively and unceremoniously pulled the pound of Lead-Up coffee from my bag that I’d brought from Guatemala for the Duchess of Cornwall, and presented it to the Queen instead. It was all so wonderfully informal and relaxed. There was no one to receive the coffee and the Queen proceeded to carry it around with her, even having photographs taken with it! I hope she got to drink and enjoy it!
The Queen was known for her humour and for having a twinkle in her eye. On that day, at the Royal Mews she chose to disregard the usual pomp and protocol, escape from her official duties for an hour or so and come to greet and support one of her favourite people, Monty Roberts. It was such a special occasion for everyone there, but it must have caused quite a stir with her staff!
One of the most beautiful things about horses is how they seem to understand everything about us, without any sense of judgment. They really are not interested in our stories; where we come from, our status, our wealth; they’re interested in our real selves. It's one of the reasons that Lead-Up is so effective; because the horses remind the youth that they don’t have to be defined by their life stories, that their essence is worthy, and that recognition gives the youth much needed validation and hope.
The Queen recognised and respected that. Horses were her friends and they were her teachers too. It seemed that the Queen was genuinely at her most relaxed and comfortable when with horses and people who value and understand them in the same way she did. Horses bring us together, break down barriers and class divides to remind us that, at the end of the day we are all one and equal. Maybe that is what made the Queen so special; that even though she was one of the most respected and powerful women in history, she always managed to remain so unaffected and genuine. I’m certain that the horses had a big part to play in that; they kept her grounded, authentic and helped her to become arguably the most popular monarch of all time.
