Horizons and the Steelworkers Humanity Fund Host an Exchange and a Workshop on Communications to Promote Equity in Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Effective communication is fundamental to any relationship. From marriages to friendships, to organizational partnerships and government relations, effective communication is vital in order to inspire and encourage positive change, social justice, and development around the world. From September 16-23, 2019, Horizons and the Steelworkers Humanity Fund is hosting a Communications Exchange and Workshop with Indigenous and non-Indigenous female leaders from Canada, Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Chile, Panama, and Peru. Together, we have a common goal:

To strengthen each others’ communications skills in order to advance gender equality in our communities.

Throughout the week, participants will take part in a variety of activities that will challenge and develop their communications skills. These activities provide participants the opportunity to reflect on their ability to communicate clearly and concisely in their personal and professional lives, and how they can better leverage communications (including social media) to advance their organization’s mission.

Participants are reporting that machismo (strong or aggressive masculine control) and hostile political environments are threatening their ability to effectively communicate and advance gender equality in their communities. With ongoing civil unrest in Latin America, particularly in the Northern Triangle (Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras) and Nicaragua, women often find themselves excluded or threatened by their male-counterparts in the workplace and communities. Throughout the exchange, participants will learn and exchange strategies and experiences that will assist them in overcoming these issues, and serve as an opportunity for them to create lasting relationships which could serve as a springboard for further organizational collaboration.

We invite you to stay tuned for our next blog post, as the group visits the Indigenous Térraba and Boruca communities in Costa Rica to learn about their successes and challenges towards achieving greater autonomy for Indigenous groups in the region.

More photos below.