Tuesday 25 February 2014

NEW HORIZON COOPERATIVE

We are a group of 130 families who fought as guerrillas against the injustices and exploitations during the 36 year civil war in Guatemala. During the demobilization process which took place with the signing of the peace accords (in 1996), we organized ourselves to form a cooperative called New Horizon, to begin a new life, with the certainty that development through solidarity can serve as a model for other communities. Today we are proud to be able to offer our services, so that visitors can learn more about the history of Guatemala, the rural (campesino) lifestyle, and the jungle that has given us refuge, natural medicines and food that we rely on even today.
The Cooperative was founded in 1998, after the signing of the peace accords in Guatemala. 130 demobilized families settled on a ranch in Santa Ana, Petén, and named it Nuevo Horizonte (New Horizon). Initially conditions were very harsh and infrastructure was non-existent. Without shelter, drinking water or electricity, with very low soil productivity, and with no capital or assets, these families organized themselves and developed a model of cooperation that changed the course of Nuevo Horizonte and came to serve as an example to surrounding communities.
Cooperativa Nuevo Horizonte was born from this vision: the determination of these guerrillas to continue to work together to build a brighter future based on the principles of social justice. With fish-farming, mixed agriculture, reforestation and eco-tourism projects, the cooperative embodies the vitality of its members and the hopes of an entire people. 

The members of Nuevo Horizonte cooperatively own 900 Hectares of land. Nuevo Horizonte is an intentional community of 495 people (of which 110 adults are full members) working to create a more equal society. The vision of Nuevo Horizonte comes from the initiative to begin a new life in spite of all the challenges that a community like this one faces. Nuevo Horizonte is a unique cooperative in Guatemala and aspires to be a model for all cooperative communities.
The opportunity to visit our community and hear our stories will give you insight into our life and our aspirations. In fact, for us, establishing relations with visitors is the foundation of “solidarity tourism” and bringing people of the world closer together. Volunteers are now welcome at New Horizon, and invited to contact us to organize their stay based on the exchange of experiences and collaboration on various educational projects of the cooperative.

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