Progress toward social justice and economic well-being is dependent on good governance, democratic processes and citizen security and key to achieving this is a well-informed citizenry, capable of engaging with governments to effectively advocate for change through coordinated and collaborative initiatives at the national and international levels.
Within this context and consistent with Horizons’ mandate, the Mesoamerican program goal is: To increase and strengthen the effectiveness of citizen participation in the Mesoamerican region in the struggle to eradicate poverty and injustice.
To work toward this goal, Horizons has established the following program purpose: To consolidate a network of learning organizations for capacity building at the local, micro-regional and national levels in Mesoamerica to improve quality of life and recognition of rights via effective mechanisms for social service delivery, knowledge production, citizen participation and policy advocacy.
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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:
- alternative socio-economic rural development;
- human rights and citizen participation;
- 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.
Horizons and partners Learning Network initiatives contribute to the strengthening of civil society. Learning network initiatives are not isolated activities but rather are designed as part of current programming processes and a means of contributing to the expected results and future planning. Local ownership of the programming is key and Horizons’ primary role is as a facilitator.
Learning Network initiatives include the following activities:
- A regional gender project to build capacity and more fully integrate a gender equity perspective into institutional functioning and programming;
- A regional project on HIV and AIDS to share knowledge and research among partner organizations and to influence policy among Central American governments;
- South/South exchanges between partner organizations and community or grassroots groups to share lessons learned, collaborate, and create opportunities for greater synergy.
Horizons supports local, autonomous organizations whose approach to their work is based on recognition of the need to empower communities to be agents of social change. Horizons and partners share an integral approach to development that includes community organization, resolution of basic necessities in the areas of health, education, production and human rights and citizen participation in local, micro-regional and national public processes.
Environmental sustainability, gender equity, bottom-up economic development and respect for human rights are the basis for Horizons’ programming work in the region. Within all programming, gender is a cross-cutting theme.
