In the fall of 2020, we created a Working Group to develop a more formal governance model that unfolded from our first year. For this purpose, we brought on board an outside facilitator, Rana Hassan from Kabcoop: a feminist facilitation coop, who helped us create a participatory governance model.
Using a participatory community model, we adapt to the current context and make plans and decisions in response to emerging challenges. The wider Horshna community supports Management in running the program through its Board, Working Groups, and General Assembly.
Thanks to this model, in our first year and amidst the revolution and economic and health crises, Horshna achieved what seemed impossible: we offered our educators, families, and children a healthy, creative, and participatory space.
Working Groups
A Working Group (WG) is a group of parents and/or educators that take care of Horshna’s needs in one of its several organizational domains.
Core Working Groups (CWG)
These are permanent working groups that support Management in the daily running of the Program.
Horshna’s co-manager is the main point of contact for all these groups, facilitating communication and following up on tasks.
Our core working groups are:
Finance WG
Helps adjust the sliding scale model as needed, and finds fair, adaptive solutions for the financial and budget concerns of our families and team members alike.
Welcoming WG
Made up of two parents who introduce new applying families to Horshna’s history and community governance structure and answer their questions.
Location Logistics WG
Helps in negotiating access to our two main locations, Baabda Forest and Horsh Beirut, and finding suitable winter locations.
Communication WG
Works with partners and contractors on developing Horshna’s website and social media strategy.
Supporting Working Groups (SWG)
These working groups contribute to the work of the program and enrich it without being involved in its daily functioning. They run specific tasks or solve specific problems.
These groups can be led by a parent and/or the Horshna co-manager. Our support working groups are:
Horshna Alumni
Fosters a sense of community between past and current educators, parents, and children. This group works on organizing events, managing ongoing initiatives, and helping with fundraising.
External relations WG
Creates alliances and collaborations with similar schools, initiatives, and networks.
Fundraising WG
Seeks out and helps secure potential funding sources through grants, donations, sponsorships, or other means.
Friday WG
Led by parents to organize extracurricular activities for the children on Fridays between 12pm and 2pm.
The Parent Board
The Parent Board has 5 elected members from our parent community. To join, parents must be active and familiar with Horshna’s governance and procedures.
All members who are active in a working group or are individually carrying out an organizational task are considered active members and may become part of the Board.
The Board has three main roles:
- A role in making strategic decisions alongside Management.
- An advisory role with Management as needed.
- A liaison between Management and the community: sharing important information with the parents, maintaining a healthy relationship between Management and community, and implementing conflict resolution when needed.
Parents who are unable to become active members are still expected to participate by attending General Assemblies, staying up to date on current issues, responding to calls and inquiries from Management and working groups, and helping out with tasks such as handling emergencies or organizing an event.
In order for Horshna to work smoothly and in harmony, all members of the community are expected to be supportive and in tune with the program’s collective spirit.
The General Assembly (GA)
The General Assembly (GA) is a gathering of the wider Horshna community including parents and team members. It convenes at least twice during the school year, with sessions held at the beginning and the end of the year. Additional meetings can be called by the Board and Management as needed.
The primary function of the General Assembly is to share updates and engage in discussions about current issues affecting the entire community.
These sessions are not intended for the GA to make finalized decisions. Rather, they are a platform where working groups, the Board, the Pedagogy and Management teams share updates, seeking input from the community for informed decision-making in the future.
At the start of each school year, the Opening General Assembly invites parents and educators to actively participate by joining one or more working groups aligned with their interests, skills, and availability.
The End of Year General Assembly serves as a reflective space for Horshna, where we do comprehensive self-assessment and a collective contemplation of the past year. This practice reinforces our commitment to continuous improvement and community involvement.