Staff
Coordinator, Migrant Program and Community Outreach
Bessie Hodder
Bessie is at Horizons as part of the Migrant Outreach Program. Bessie has completed her Master of Arts in Global Development from Queen’s University with the focus of her research on Immigration issues and the negative effects of detention centres on the heath of Latin American women in the United States. Bessie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Global Development from Queen’s University. She has experience working in the non-profit sector and has volunteered with refugee resettlement services in Kingston. Bessie was born in Cuba and is fluent in Spanish, she has worked alongside migrant workers in the agricultural sector and has helped translate in the workplace. She has lived in Cobourg the majority of her life and currently resides in Port Hope.
Manager, Business and Donor Relations
Erin Williams
Erin oversees the financial department and our donors at Horizons. She brings experience with her background; working in non-profit, working with vulnerable persons, and she brings a personal touch with her education in Communications. With her bubbly personality, she takes care of business and creates and maintains individual donor relationships within our community and beyond.
Manager, Community Engagement and Partnerships
Megan Botha
Megan is currently supporting Horizons as Manager, Community Engagement and Partnerships. She prioritizes strong relationships with foundations, and ensures Horizons project goals are met. Megan completed her Master of Arts in Social Justice and Community Engagement from Wilfrid Laurier University, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Development. She has over three years’ experience working with immigrants, seasonal migrant workers and other marginalized communities and has a passion for supporting and researching grassroots development projects, as she has studied Food Security and Sustainability in Canada’s Yukon and Social Business and Poverty in Guatemala.
Coordinator, Volunteer Engagement and Store
Amy MacGillivray
Amy oversees the day-to-day operations of Horizons’ Thrift and Treasure Shops. She coordinates the scheduling of over 12 volunteers who are instrumental to the Shops’ success, and executes a variety of events in support of the Thrift Stores. Amy has more than 10 years of experience working with senior citizens. She brings a unique level of passion and energy for community engagement to our team.
Environmental Policy Advisor & Resource Development Coordinator
Dr. Tamara Britton-Mendieta
Tamara leads the environmental compliance component of the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) project in Guatemala and oversees its resource development and public communications. She holds a PhD and MA in Anthropology and Environmental Sustainability from the University of Western Ontario, supported by a Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada – Canadian Graduate Research Scholarship, Doctoral (SSHRC CGS-D) fellowship. Her research and practice-based expertise is centered around conservation and development politics with montuvio communities in coastal Ecuador, contributing to political ecology, and anthropological approaches to nature-culture studies, and the decolonization of knowledge.
Tamara also holds an MA in Immigration and Settlement Studies from Toronto Metropolitan University, where she studied NGO responses to child migration from Guatemala, and a BA in Anthropology and International Development from Trent University. With 14+ years of experience in Latin America, she is fluent in Spanish and based in Bowmanville, Ontario.
Project Manager, Sexual & Reproductive Health (Guatemala)
Irania Ledesma
Originally from Mexico City, Irania brings over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit and health sectors, with a strong focus on sexual health and reproductive rights. As a Project Manager for the Sexual Health and Reproductive Health project in Guatemala, she leads initiatives aimed at improving life-changing access to vital healthcare services and education for Indigenous adolescents and women.
Fluent in Spanish, Irania is deeply committed to advocating for policy change, community education, and support for marginalized populations in Latin America. Beyond her professional work, Irania also has a keen interest in environmental initiatives, believing in the interconnectedness of health and environmental sustainability.
Our History & Mission
Horizons of Friendship empowers people and strengthens
communities to eliminate poverty and injustice across Central America & Mexico.
Strength
It takes strength to fight against poverty and injustice in Central America and Mexico. Over the years, our team has built a strong coalition of organizations who are committed to tackling poverty and injustice in the region.
Partnership
We work directly with our partners to implement projects that create positive change. Through partnerships, we are able to have a local impact without requiring the presence of Horizons’ offices in the South.
Commitment
For over 50 years, we’ve been committed to eliminating poverty and injustice in Central America and Mexico. With your support and that of our partners, we remain dedicated and focused to continuing this fight.