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See link to Ellen's Power Point presentation. Horizons of Friendship work in Central America but the specific request is for support for a program in Nicaragua's Indigenous Region to prevent Violence Against Women and Girls. Horizons was formed in 1973 by 3 Cobourg residents. It is a Canadian Charity based in Cobourg Ontario. It started initially to support children and quickly expanded their reach. Their goal is to support programs to root out causes of poverty and racial injustice in Central America. They work with local program partners on the ground with these local people taking an active role to fund raise and carry out programs, empowering the local people they are working to help and support. Nicaragua is the second poorest country in west, second only to Haiti. They have about 6.2 million people with over half under age of 24. There are 7 indigenous groups. The country is in political and economic crisis. The Pacific coast is generally Spanish speaking and more populated and bigger cities. The Atlantic half is more rural, less populated and run by the Indigenous population. Violence to women and girls is high with half experience violence in their lives. 28% are pregnant by age 18. Early child birth takes girls out of school and with that a lack of opportunity. They typically have 5 to 8 children. There was an old law that women had to marry the person who raped them. Horizons works with two local partners. 1. Maria Elena Cuadra Working & Unemployed Women's Movement (MEC) 2. The Association of Indigenous Women of the Atlantic (AMICA) For this program their partner is AMICA. AMICA was started in 1980's by women who first had to educate her husband that she was not second class but equal role in their partnership. The program is the Education of Indigenous Women and girls to defend their rights and address violence against women. Program started in December 2019 and goals to May 2021. They have a budget of $55,000 US. Their goal is to reach 1,544 women. They are building the capacity of Indigenous women to advocate for their own rights. They are training 30 women leaders and help hundreds of survivors access justice. During the Pandemic, Nicaragua took an approach to allow people to look after themselves, no government support. AMICA has stepped into the void to teach people proper hygiene. Their has been a huge migration to Costa Rica putting burden on that country. Horizons have partners on the ground, but have not been able to send anyone their due to concerns for their safety that last 2 years.
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