How We Work

Horizons of Friendship operates the inter-related Mesoamerican and Community Outreach programs. Our fundraising and administrative staff provide support to sustain the organization’s activities. Our Mesoamerican Program provides support to 25 to 30 projects implemented in the seven Mesoamerican countries by over 20 local partner organizations. Horizons’ strategy in Mesoamerica focuses on strengthening a Learning Network that is fed by collaborative work, joint training and reflection among Horizons and our partners. This leads to the generation of knowledge and the creation of sustainable models of people-centred development. Our current programmatic focus incorporates three inter-connected themes of:

  1. alternative socio-economic rural development;
  2. human rights and citizen participation;
  3. health, education and community action.

Within these themes, a balance is achieved between service provision, knowledge production and advocacy, with gender equity and respect for the environment as crosscutting concerns. Learning Network Activities include partner participation in regional workshops on systematization, gender equity and HIV/AIDS methodology as well as partner-to-partner exchanges that enrich their practices and understanding of the regional context. Increasingly we are linking with Canadian organizations working on similar themes to bring a North-South connection to the Learning Network.

Horizons has a full-time Mesoamerican Program Coordinator and contracts a Financial Assistant as well as Southern based consultants to provide on-going accompaniment and technical support to our partners.