August 2007

On Thursday August 30th, Horizons of Friendship will be screening the film The Hidden Story, as the closing documentary of the Summer Film Series. The film examines Colombia’s dirty war through powerful images and testimony.

The film will be followed by a discussion led by Kathy Price. Kathy is a human rights worker with Amnesty International and the film’s producer. The event will begin at 7pm.

The 29 minute film was produced by the Latin America Human Rights team of KAIROS in partnership with various other organizations; it premiered in October 2001. The Hidden Story analyzes the roots of the conflict, the role of the US sponsored Plan Colombia and the so-called war on drugs, Canadian connections, and the importance of international support for those working for social justice in Colombia.

Kathy Price will address the issues raised in the film and talk about the most recent events in Colombia. As well, she will look at the role Canada is now playing in the country, namely Prime Minister Harper’s recent visit to Colombia to try to launch free trade negotiations and Canada’s support for the bogus paramilitary demobilization process. There will be a Q&A after her presentation.

We invite the Northumberland community to attend the series free of charge at Horizons of Friendship’s resource center, located at 50 Covert Street (corner of Covert and George), Cobourg, 2nd floor. Everyone is welcome.

For more information, please contact:
Michelle Switzer
Community Outreach
(905) 372-5483 Ext.24
Email: mswitzer@horizons.ca

Horizons of Friendship is pleased to present a September speaking tour from three Central American women on the economic benefits of cooperatives and microenterprise for women in the region.

Gloria Siesar from the Masaya Women’s Cooperative in Nicaragua, Teresa López from the Simiente Foundation in Honduras, and Victoria Alverca from Fapecafes in Ecuador will speaking in Kingston and Toronto on the experiences of their organizations in promoting economic rights as women’s rights.

Sept 17: Kingston – Queen’s University, 1pm-2:30pm (room M-C B204)
Kingston – Central Branch Public Library, 130 Johnson Street, Delahaye Rm, 7-9pm
Sept. 18: Peterborough – Sadleir House, 751 George Street N, 7pm – 9pm
Sept. 19: Toronto – Alternative Grounds Café, 333 Rocansvalles Ave, 7pm-9pm

Horizons of Friendship is a Canadian organization based in Cobourg, Ontario that works with local partners to combat poverty and injustice in Central America and Southern Mexico.

Simiente Foundation works with marginalized communities on sustainable agriculture, small livestock production, gender equity, citizen participation and micro-enterprise initiatives for women. Horizons of Friendship is supporting Simiente Foundations’ Empowering Women through Micro-Enterprise Project, that is provided technical training to 299 women of 12 communities in Southern Honduras. The project provides training in grain storage, production of cheese, cream, pickles, conserves and olive soap and the elaboration of a marketing strategy to promote all locally produced goods. Women also learn to promote their rights and petition for improved government services.

The Masaya Women’s Cooperative fosters economic, technical and cultural improvements for women from rural communities of Masaya department, Nicaragua through training programs and the establishment of small businesses. One such successful endeavour has been setting up craft production by women artisans, in particular in dressmaking and embroidery, to increase women’s income. Sessions are also provided on self-esteem, promotion of women’s rights and prevention of domestic violence. For more information, please contact:
Michelle Switzer
Community Outreach Program Coordinator
905-372-5483 x.24
mswitzer@horizons.ca