Canadians Travel to Guatemala on 10-Day Delegation
(Cobourg, ON) A group of 21 people from Cobourg, Belleville, Kingston, Alberta and Nova Scotia will be part of a special delegation in early February travelling to Guatemala with the Cobourg-based international development agency, Horizons of Friendship.
Horizons of Friendship, a Canadian charitable organization, has been supporting community development projects for over 32 years in the region of Central America and Mexico (Mesoamerica). While the tour includes visits to cultural and historical sites, group delegations such as this one, have been established to give travellers an opportunity to understand the importance of international cooperation and the need for solidarity with the people of Mesoamerica; a region of the world affected by civil conflicts and natural disasters.
This objective takes a stronger meaning, as the delegation falls just one week after International Development Week, a national celebration established by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to raise awareness about development issues and promote global citizenship. Through this 10-day delegation, Horizons of Friendship hopes to highlight the message of this year’s International Development Week, which is “Canadians making a difference in the world”.
During the tour, delegates will visit and learn about projects that receive support from Horizons of Friendship and the Canadian government. Among those projects to be visited are: an environment program designed to improve the quality of life of Mayan indigenous communities, a popular education school for children of landless Guatemalan peasants and various micro-economic enterprises intended for food security and income-generating potential.
“This delegation is part of the ongoing educational initiatives at Horizons of Friendship, giving diverse Canadians a direct contact experience with hard-working communities and individuals in developing countries who benefit from international cooperation.” said Patricia Rebolledo, Executive Director of Horizons of Friendship who will be travelling with the group in February. In addition, the delegation will tour places like the city of Antigua, one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in the Americas, set amid three magnificent volcanoes. All of this makes the tour a truly holistic experience for delegates combining both travel and education.
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Media inquiries:
Jessica Farias
Community Outreach
905-372-5483 Ext. 24
jfarias@horizons.ca
