May 2003

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Exposure Tour to Honduras

May 26, 2003 in Events by admin

Horizons of Friendship 30th Anniversary Exposure Tour: Honduras, November 16-26 2003

A unique travel and educational experience to learn about community development and social justice issues in Honduras!

Horizons of Friendship, a non-profit international development organization located in Cobourg Ontario, is organizing an Exposure Tour to Honduras. Horizons of Friendship supports community development projects in Central America and Mexico.

Honduras, one of the poorest countries in the Americas, faces many challenges and struggles with its history of military rule, imperialism, uneven distribution of wealth and natural disasters. Nevertheless, this land covered by mountains and rainforests, shines with the perseverance and genuine friendliness of its people, who are working to overcome injustice and poverty. Honduras has an extensive network of national parks and the Mayan Copan Ruins declared as a world heritage site by the UNESCO, making this country an incredible place to visit.

Exposure/Reality Tours are an excellent way to travel and learn about the social, cultural and political context of a country. This is not something usually associated with traditional tourism. However, it is an incredible chance to see a wide variety of projects from local partner organizations supported by Horizons of Friendship. Currently, we support three non-profit organizations in Honduras that work in the area of rural development, labour rights and women’s issues. As a tour participant, you will learn about these issues and hear directly from the people that conceive, implement and benefit from these projects. You will have the opportunity to visit places like: Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, among others.

Approximate Cost $ 2,800
§ 10-Day Tour includes:
- Airfare Toronto-Tegucigalpa
- Ground transportation in Honduras
- All Accommodations and Meals
- Insurance Policy
- Translation
- Airport taxes and visas
- Briefings on the country’s political and economic situation
- Entrance to cultural and historical sites: Mayan & prehistoric sites – like the Copan Ruins
- Meeting and talking with community members

If you are interested please contact Jessica or Kathrine. Limited Space. You can call us at our toll free number 1-888-729-9928 or email us info@horizons.ca

See first hand the work that Horizons of Friendship supports in Mesoamerica!

Spring-Summer Newsletter 2003

May 22, 2003 in Newsletters and Annual Reports by community

Download Spring-Summer Newsletter 2003

Youth Conference in Cobourg

May 20, 2003 in Resources by admin

HORIZONS OF FRIENDSHIP &
ONTARIO COUNCIL FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Presents:

“Strategies for Social Change”

A one-day forum for youth that explores a series of creative strategies that promotes global education and fosters social change. An opportunity to learn more about Globalization, Fair Trade, Labour Rights, and Technology and Activism.

When: Saturday, May 31 2003
Time: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Location: Trinity United Church in Cobourg
15 Chapel Street, Cobourg
Cost of Registration: $ 3 (includes lunch and materials)
Registration deadline: May 26, 2003

To register please contact
Jessica Farias @ (905) 372-5483 ext. 24
Or by email jfarias@horizons.ca
Register early – space is limited

“Never doubt that a small group
of people can change the world,
it is the only thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead

_________________________________________________________

AGENDA

9:30 am: Registration

10:00 am: Welcome and Brief Introductions by Horizons of Friendship and OCIC
§ Patricia Rebolledo
§ Nadya Weber
§ Jessica Farias

10:15 am – 11:15 am:“Thinking is the ultimate act of resistance”
Workshop Description: This workshop provides an opportunity to think and talk about what social change is and why we might be interested in and committed to it. Faciliated by a young Mexican activist living in Toronto, is a writer and poet. Barbara Williams is a Canadian educator and researcher, both of have worked in the Puebla/Panama region and Chiapas with women’s groups.
Facilitator: Canadian/Chiapas Women’s Alliance for Justice is a Canadian not-for-profit network compromised of a group of Canadian women, men and member organizations based in Chiapas and the Puebla-Panama geo-political region.

11:15 am – 11:30 am: Break

11:30 am – 12:30noon: “Putting Fair Trade in your Map”
Workshop Description: As consumers we are agents of change: We have the power to promote social justice locally and globally. By using the example of coffee, we will try to “stir up” discussion on how we “can” help build an economic system based on mutual trust, cooperation and respect.
Facilitator: Alternative Grounds Coffee House and Roastery is a community-based business. We have been roasting fair trade coffees since 1995. Susy Alvarez-Pocasangre is a Fairtrade coffee roaster and advocate, as well as a community radio activist with a history of working with groups that promote social change, justice and dignity.

12:30noon – 1:15 pm: Lunch (Video playing over lunch: “Women of Change”)

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm:“Sweatshops and Student/Worker Solidarity”
Workshop Description: Many of us are aware that behind the hip images of brand name fashions are women who sewing for long hours, being paid extremely low wages and enduring unsafe and unhealthy conditions. But how can we, as young people, support them as they struggle for improvements in the workplace? High school students across the province are launching anti-sweatshop campaigns. Find out how you can be part of this movement for change.
Facilitator: Maquila Solidarity Network (MSN) is a Canadian network promoting solidarity with groups in Mexico, Central America, and Asia organizing in maquiladora factories and export processing zones to improve conditions and win a living wage. Tanya Roberts-Davis works for MSN in Toronto.

2:30 pm – 2:45 pm: Break

2:45 pm – 3:45 pm: “Cyber Activism: The power of social change at your fingertips”
Workshop Description:This workshop will outline how to use the Internet as a social justice tool. It draws upon examples from social justice groups throughout the world that creatively use the Internet as a strategic tool for global change. Youth will be directed to resources to plan and start their own cyber campaigns. There will also be discussions of the potentials and limits of cyberactivism.
Facilitator: Evelyn Encalada Grez is a community organizer, researcher and PhD student in Sociology and Equity Studies in Education at OISE/UT. She interned for the Central American Network of Women in Solidarity with Women Maquila Workers where she directed an Information Communication Technology (ICT) strategy for the network.

4:00 pm – 4:45 pm: Group Evaluations (Youth-led activity)

5:00 pm: End of session

National Fair Trade Week

May 12, 2003 in Events by admin

National Fair Trade Week
May 11-17, 2003

Fair Trade Makes Sense!

(Cobourg, ONT) Horizons of Friendship is celebrating National Fair Trade Week and invites the Northumberland community to visit our Thrift Store to buy certified fair trade coffee, tea and chocolate, as well as our unique fairly traded hammocks from Nicaragua. Horizons of Friendship, a non-profit international development organization working to end poverty in Central America and Mexico, is a supporter of Transfair Canada, the only independent non-profit certification body for fair trade products sold in Canada.

National Fair Trade week has been instituted to increase public understanding and demand for fair trade products, while building a movement that promotes socially minded consumerism. May 17 has been recognized as World Fair Trade Day in countries like Canada, United States, UK and Japan. In Ottawa, Mayor Bob Chiarelli has officially proclaimed May 11 to 17 as National Fair Trade week in the Nation’s capital.

Fair Trade is an alternative to farmers and artisans from the developing world that enables them to sell their products directly and at a much better price. Fair Trade must guarantee producers a minimum price that covers production and helps them improve their living conditions. In the case of coffee, international trade has brought little benefits to farmers and small producers who live in poverty and are at the mercy of local traders who frequently exploit them. Consumers can positively exercise their power by buying products that follow socially accountable standards.

During Fair Trade Week, Horizons of Friendship is also pleased to host the visit of Tina Conlon, a representative from Oxfam Canada, a non-profit international development organization that actively supports Fair Trade. Tina will be making a presentation on Fair Trade to students and teachers at the Colligate East High School in Cobourg on Thursday May 15, 2003. Members of the Media are welcome to attend this event.

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For more information please contact:
Jessica Farias
Community Outreach Coordinator
Phone: (905) 372-5483 ext. 24
Email: jfarias@horizos.ca
____________________________________________________________

Fair Trade Resources:

Transfair Canada

http://www.transfair.ca

Oxfam Make Fair Trade Campaign

http://www.maketradefair.com

Oxfam Canada Fair Trade Working Group

http://www.fairtradetoronto.com

Alternative Grounds

http://www.alternativegrounds.com

La Siembra – Fair Trade Cocoa

http://www.lasiembra.com

Save the Children Canada – Positive Chocolate