Principals and Focuses
Horyzon’s main goals
The Hoyzon Foundation’s developmental cooperation is based on strengthening local communities and works toward the ideal of people, independent of race, religious or political beliefs, gender or social status, being able to lead a worthy existence.
Improving the situation of young people is decisive for the world-wide reduction of poverty. Horyzon orients itself on the UNO’s Millenium Declaration: Five from eight measurable Millenium Development Goals (MDG) relate directly to young people: education for all, gender balance and empowering women, improving health care for mothers, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases and building up a global development partnership.
Raising awareness and education in Switzerland
In our effort to raise awareness, Horyzon enables members of YMCA/YWCA Switzerland and other parties interested in development aid, to show their solidarity and to get to know more about the living conditions of young people in southern and eastern countries.
Thematic focuses
Horyzon concentrates its endeavours in the field of education in the form of non-formal exchange of knowledge, competences and skills. Education strengthens self-confidence and enables inherent potential to be realised. It helps people to be aware of their own situations and to plan and execute changes.
Horyzon helps young people to sustainably better their lives by focusing on three main points:
1. Vocational training and income earning
Only those who have a vocation and can earn an income can make their way out of poverty. Horyzon primarily supports youths and women to build up their own small businesses or to find permanent employment. Horyzon conveys practically orientated knowledge and skills and encourages the setting up of saving and credit groups.
2. Training in the areas of health care and prevention
Health is an important factor in regard to development. Horyzon encourages people to better their own physical, psychological and social well-being by conveying knowledge in the areas of nutrition, hygiene, reproductive health and HIV/AIDS. It also supports children and youths who suffer from the traumatic results of armed conflict and displacement.
3. Socio-political education
With this focus, Horyzon informs youths and women about their rights and explains possible courses of action when standing up for their rights and taking social responsibility. Horyzon conveys knowledge in the areas of civil, women’s and children’s rights and is active in conflict prevention and peace education.
Our working principals
Horyzon supports programs and projects from local and national YMCA and YWCA partner organisations and orientates its development co-operations on long-term planning and goals so that the programs carried out and have a long-lasting impact. To this aim, a three-year program per country is worked out, in a set planning cycle. These first steps set the aims and the financial frames and also how much assistance must be given to local partners. For the purpose of long-term strategy, the projects are further evaluated at a later stage. The following working principals apply for projects and programs:
Relevance and participation
Horyzon supports local initiatives from involved parties and encourages self-initiative and self-determination. This is why local people take an active role from the beginning in setting up and carrying out the projects.
Sustainability
The projects financed by Horyzon should have a long-term affect and be of long-term benefit to the people. Horyzon, therefore, makes a point of ensuring that the projects be integrated into the local communities.
Gender balance
Horyzon takes into account that the projects supported should be in keeping with the needs of men and women and that both genders are suitably represented in the development and execution of the projects.
Local Integration
Horyzon recognises the value of integrating the projects into the social and institutional surroundings: this includes setting up institutions, taking part in political processes, exerting structural influence, further education, training and optimising processes.
Ecological Sustainability
Horyzon respects the ecological aspects and affects of the projects. Suitable focuses, raising of awareness and activities are encouraged.
Networking
Synergies can be utilised by setting up organisational networks to utilise the available resources. Primarily through networking similar initiatives, which means coordinating the cooperation with civil and governmental institutions.
