Run and do good
Once again on the weekends of 11th/12th and 18th/19th September the annual 2-hour runs and races in support of Horyzon projects are taking place. A good opportunity to do something for your own health and for a better future for young people at the same time. All events - in Eschlikon, Grabs, Olten and Urdorf - have a long tradition and there are various activities for young and old besides the run or the ride itself. You can find more information on these events and a link to register here.
Join the Olive Picking Programme in Palestine
The Joint Advocacy Initiative (JAI) from YMCA and YWCA Palestine and the Alternative Tourism Group (ATG) invite you once again to take part in this aid project by offering your help with the olive picking from 16 - 25 October 2010. Especially in areas in proximity to Israeli settlements Palestinian farmers depend on international presence in order to pick their olives. Besides showing your solidarity, an interesting program with meetings, visits and informative events enables you to get a deeper look at the situation in Palestine.
For a detailed program, please visit the JAI website.
Information in Switzerland: Adamo Antoniadis, adamo.antoniadis@horyzon.ch, 062 296 62 68).
YMCA World Council in Hong Kong
The 17th World Council of YMCAs took place in Hong Kong from 17th-24th July 2010. Participants from over 100 countries gathered under the slogan "Striving for Global Citizenship for All" and took the opportunity for talks, workshops and lectures. Know-how was exchanged and people met old friends and made new ones. Also Horyzon had the chance to network with other development organizations and to hold meetings with project partners from around the world. Click on the video for some impressions of the activities and the atmosphere at the World Council.
Youth murdered in Colombia
Horyzon painfully takes leave of Andrés Felipe Medina. The young leader of the YMCA group Son Batá in the Comuna 13, Medellíns most dangerous neighbourhood, was assassinated on the 4th of July.
Together with his friends from Son Batá he was preparing for a meeting with the Minister of Culture of Colombia. Ironically, he was murdered, while supporters of President Uribe were organising acknowledgements in the streets for the great success of his policy of "democratic security". The death of Andrés Felipe Medina shows once again that this security only applies for the rich upper class and political dignitaries. But for the rest of the people the situation has worsened. Every day it is exposed to the violence and arbitrariness of the military and illegal armed groups.
Andrés was member of the YMCA of Medellín for many years. He had big plans for his future and has worked with a lot of joy and an unbroken optimism for the young people of his city and the afroamericans in Colombia. As a leader and role model, and with his artistic skills, he was an inspiration for many children and young people.
The YMCA of Medellín accompanies his family and friends in the preparations for the funeral and in the difficult time after.
Andrés, his fire, his hope, his commitment to the community of African Americans in Colombia and its positive influence on the youth of the Comuna 13 will remain in living memory to all who knew him.
You can find more information on Son Batá in Spanish here, or a video documentary here and here.
Horyzon on Swiss TV
The Horyzon project of YMCA Colombia was presented on the 4th of July 2010 on Swiss television, in the programme „Mitenand“. Galus Garzón, 29 years old, tells us about his life in the Colombian conflict.
The report can be seen online following this link.
Annual and financial report 2009
Horyzon supported a total of 15 projects in 2009, with project costs of CHF 1.2 Mio. You can find the detailed financial statements under the following links:
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