Youth in smaller-population centres, such as Cobourg, are an under-served group in terms of real opportunities for participation and action on community issues. Horizons provides a youth-friendly space where they can channel their interests in global and social justice issues.
After two years of research and cooperation, youth from Canada, Nicaragua and Jamaica have created a collaborative tri-national document entitled, “New Directions in Food Sovereignty: A South-North Youth Perspective”. Spearheaded by Jamaican Self-Help (Peterborough) and in partnership with Horizons and their partner, the Oscar Arnulfo Romero Community Centre in Nicaragua (CCOAR), the youth worked tirelessly to produce and present the document to their local and national governments on United Nations World Food Day. The youth continue to work with decision makers and civil society to highlight the importance of autonomous agricultural systems, both in the South and North, which are not dependent on the international market.
To read “New Directions in Food Sovereignty: A South-North Youth Perspective” please click here.
“I am really proud of the work that has been achieved, and is continuing through this tri-country effort. Meeting people from such diverse background and knowing that they share the same concerns as I do reminds me how human we all are”. - Helen Stropps from Cobourg
“I hope I can pass on my knowledge from this conference and help my country grow”. - Yessenia Ordoñez from Nicaragua
Horizons is currently supporting, Youth 4 Global Change, a movement created by youth from Northumberland, committed to the eradication of poverty and all forms of inequality. Youth 4 Global Change continues to work in partnership with youth supported by Jamaican Self-Help in Peterborough, Ontario.
Thier goals: public awareness and engagement as well as policy change regarding the North/South connection to poverty.
Youth 4 Global Change (Horizons) and the Youth Action Team (Jamaican Self-Help) came together to create a common agenda for social change in February 2010.
Youth 4 Global Change members Meaghan McClelland (below), Paige Jackson, and Douglas Mead address Cobourg Town Council on World Water Day 2010 with their concerns; the purchasing of bottled water for municipal buildings. Thier message, “Northumberland has perfectly clean water, yet the purchasing of bottled water is on the rise. We know what is in our local tap water, that it is safe and accessible, yet many Northumberland residents unnecessarily purchase bottled water, which in turn creates a lot of waste, and supports the selling of water as a commodity. We believe water is a right, not a commodity”.
Meaghan McClelland
Paige Jackson and Douglas Mead
As Toronto prepares to host the G8 and G20 summits in June 2010, the youth from Northumberland and Peterborough are collaborating to encourage governments and civil society to support the Millennium Development Goal to Eradicate Poverty and Hunger by cutting the number of people living on less than a dollar a day in half, by the year 2015. Their common message: a strong Canadian and global economy, but not at the price of human rights or a healthy environment.
In addition, Horizons of Friendship offers opportunities for youth through our ties with local schools, youth and community groups. Horizons accepts coop students from three Cobourg high Schools, providing youth with the opportunity to earn their 40 volunteer hours, a requirement of Ontario high schools, while learning more about Horizons’ work.
“Fast for Friendship 2006” with local high school students
