Change takes time. When you’re immersed in daily responsibilities, progress often feels invisible—lost in the routine of tasks and challenges. But stepping back, as I did on my last visit with the team of Proyecto Horizonte, the difference is striking. Comparing the community I first encountered twenty years ago to what I see today feels like looking at two different worlds.
The photos we share capture that transformation: streets that once felt unsafe, adobe houses without protection—today replaced by a community that is growing, learning, and expanding. And yet, every step forward has come with its own set of trials.
As a small private foundation, sustained in large part by the founder’s contributions, Proyecto Horizonte has weathered financial strains, career transitions, personal crises, and moments that could have been seen as failures. Each of these could have been reasons to stop—but giving up was never an option.
At the heart of this story are people. From the very beginning, my co‑founder Osvaldo and I believed that lasting change depends on local strength: local staff, local educators, and a clear commitment to quality education. Our team has proven, time and again, that trust is earned not through words, but through presence—showing up year after year, generation after generation. Their work has been multiplied by the generosity of volunteers and donors, most contributing modest amounts within their means. That quiet belief and consistency have been the force behind every achievement.
Challenges don’t stop—they evolve. Two decades ago, the urgent need was infrastructure: schools, daycare centers, and health posts. Today, the priorities are different: strong content, qualified educators, and keeping pace with the needs of a community that continues to grow and shift. As many families improved their lives, the poorest moved further up the mountains. Now, our task is to follow them and continue supporting those most in need.
Some ask: is Proyecto Horizonte simply charity? How can it be sustainable? Where are the detailed reports, the statistics, the proof? Having spent part of my career in impact finance, I know these questions well. But the truth is that every single day of work by a team member has been an investment—planted like a seed—that has grown into education, health services, and opportunities that changed lives. Families have launched businesses, children have entered university, and neighborhoods once overlooked have begun to thrive. These are real returns, even if they don’t fit neatly into traditional investment formulas. If the formulas cannot capture what is visible and tangible, then perhaps it is the formulas that need to change, not the work.
The lesson is simple but profound: change takes patience, challenges never end, and true impact stretches far beyond what we can measure. Proyecto Horizonte is just one part of this story—we are not the only reason change has happened, but we have been a catalyst. And when you see a child succeed, a family find stability, or a community take another step forward, it becomes clear: sharing resources and care can transform lives.
The work is not done—but every step has been worth it.
For questions and for support in any shape or form, please reach out to christian@christianruehmer.com. See more at www.proyectohorizonte.org
