Horyzon - Die Schweizer Entwicklungsorganisation für Jugendliche

What Horyzon - Die Schweizer Entwicklungsorganisation für Jugendliche does

Horyzon - Die Schweizer Entwicklungsorganisation für Jugendliche is a Swiss non-profit foundation (Stiftung Horyzon) established in 1969 and headquartered in Olten, Canton of Solothurn. It supports youth empowerment in the Global South by funding and partnering with local YMCA and YWCA organizations to deliver education, vocational training, psychosocial support, and rights-based programs in six countries: Haiti, Colombia, Palestine, Uganda, Nepal, and Togo. The foundation directly reaches over 5,000 youth annually with a further ~10,000 indirect beneficiaries, and operates via a structured 6-phase partnership approach that progresses from pilot projects through to local organizational independence.

The organization's product portfolio comprises six country-specific programs (Espace Sür in Haiti, Paza la Paz in Colombia, Reintegration Program in Palestine, Hope Beyond Borders in Uganda, EmpowHER in Nepal, Doin' it Right in Togo) plus a cross-cutting Educational Program. Technology is non-proprietary: Horyzon relies on standard non-profit SaaS (RaiseNow for donations, Mailchimp for newsletters, DeinAdieu for wills) rather than internally developed platforms. The foundation is ZEWO-certified and holds Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) accreditation, with SDC funding providing approximately one-third of annual income.

Horyzon's revenue model is community-led and diversified: private individual donations (online and bank transfer), bequests and legacies, memorial donations, community events (sponsorship 2-hour runs in Grabs and Olten), institutional grants from SDC, cantons, municipalities, parishes and service clubs, and a portfolio of ~10 named private foundations. Disclosed annual budget is approximately CHF 1.5 million. Daily operations are run by a six-person team in Olten under Director Chiara Borner, supervised by a Board of Trustees chaired by Marlies Petrig, with an eight-person board providing governance.

Name

Horyzon - Die Schweizer Entwicklungsorganisation für Jugendliche

Legal name

Stiftung Horyzon

Website

https://horyzon.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Horyzon is a Swiss non-profit foundation founded in 1969 that funds local YMCA and YWCA partners to deliver youth empowerment, education, and psychosocial support programs in six Global South countries including Haiti, Colombia, Palestine, Uganda, Nepal, and Togo.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Youth Development Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG), Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

Keywords

• Youth development services
• International development cooperation
• Vocational training programs
• Psychosocial support services
• Nonprofit foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Olten

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations from private individuals: Direct donations from private donors, both one-time and recurring, collected via online donation platform and bank transfer. Donors can make general contributions or specify project preferences.
2. Institutional funding: Approximately one-third of income comes from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). Additional institutional funding from foundations, cantons, municipalities, parishes, and service clubs.
3. Legacies and inheritances: Bequests and inheritances from individuals who include Horyzon in their wills, providing long-term financial support for youth programs.
4. Memorial donations: Funeral/bereavement donations made in memory of deceased persons, often collected at funerals or mentioned in obituaries.
5. Sponsorship events: Community fundraising events such as 2-hour runs (e.g., in Grabs and Olten) where participants seek sponsors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Horyzon is a Swiss non-profit foundation that supports youth empowerment in the Global South through country-specific development projects implemented via local YMCA/YWCA partner organizations. Programs deliver education, vocational training, psychosocial counseling, therapy, protection from violence, leadership development, and income generation support across six countries: Haiti, Colombia, Palestine, Uganda, Nepal, and Togo.

Product overview

Horyzon is a Swiss development organization operating as a foundation established in 1969 with an annual budget of approximately 1.5 million Swiss Francs. The organization supports youth empowerment projects across six countries in the Global South: Haiti, Colombia, Palestine, Uganda, Nepal, and Togo. Each country program operates as a distinct project with specific focus areas, including youth centers, education, refugee support, disability reintegration, and youth justice. Projects are implemented through local partner organizations within the international YMCA and YWCA network, and Horyzon provides funding, professional fundraising, project monitoring, and evaluations. The organization directly reaches over 5,000 youth annually, with approximately 10,000 people indirectly benefiting. The portfolio includes country-specific initiatives such as 'Espace Sûr' in Haiti, 'Paza la Paz' in Colombia, the Reintegration Program in Palestine, 'Hope Beyond Borders' in Uganda, 'EmpowHER' in Nepal, and 'Doin' it Right' in Togo, alongside a cross-cutting Educational Program spanning multiple countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Espace Sûr (Haiti)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 5,000 youth directly and 10,000+ indirectly benefit annually from Horyzon projects
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• YWCA PalestinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal implementation partner for youth projects in Palestine, part of international YWCA network. Implements reintegration program for youth with disabilities.
• YMCA ColombiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner implementing 'Paza la Paz' project since 2004. Horyzon planning gradual withdrawal and handover by 2029.
• YWCA Nepal (NMBS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner implementing 'EmpowHER' project for young women since 2023, focusing on gender equality and women's rights.
• YWCA HaiticoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner operating the Horyzon Youth Center in Pétion-Ville, providing safe spaces for girls and young women.
• YMCA TogocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner implementing 'Doin' it Right' project since 2024, supporting youth in conflict with the law. Has over a decade of experience and works in all prisons in the country.
• YMCA East JerusalemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner implementing reintegration programs in the West Bank, providing support to youth with disabilities.
• YGlobal UgandacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner implementing 'Hope Beyond Borders' project in refugee settlements of Adjumani and Kiryandongo since 2021.
• Cevi Schweiz (YMCA/YWCA Switzerland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization within Switzerland maintaining broad network for international cooperation advocacy.
• DeinAdieuminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership enabling individuals to create wills including Horyzon bequests at no cost through online will generator.
• SwissDonationsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMembership organization that promotes and simplifies donations in Switzerland; Horyzon receives full donation amount with administration handled by SwissDonations.
• YMCA/YWCA International NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network through which Horyzon identifies partner organizations via international calls for proposals. Horyzon participated in YMCA and YWCA Leader Meeting in Stockholm in January 2025.
• Community of Cooperation (KoGe)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional partner supporting Horyzon's development cooperation work.
• 2-hour run GrabsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity fundraising event where participants raise funds for Horyzon through sponsored running.
• 2-hour run OltenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity fundraising event where participants raise funds for Horyzon through sponsored running.
• Forum for Human Rights Israel/PalestineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss coalition Horyzon participates in to advocate for human rights and inform Swiss public and policymakers about developments.
• Alliance SudminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss development policy alliance collaborating with Horyzon on the 'Solidarity Alert' campaign against development aid cuts.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/horyzon.ch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/horyzon-ch
• Instagraminstagram.com/horyzon.ch

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Horyzon - Die Schweizer Entwicklungsorganisation für Jugendliche