Why SouthLink?
SouthLink brings a fresh approach to both international and local development by challenging the traditional approaches that create and perpetuate dependency. Our vision entails a development approach that fosters active participation from the affected individuals, ultimately aligning with the community’s own progress.
Our Team
SouthLink’s founder, Cesar Caneo and directors, Paul A. Diaz and Maria E. Oliva, met in the early ‘80’s as students at the University of Santiago in Chile. All have lived experience with poverty, and inequality, and came to Canada as refugees or immigrants in the late 80’s. Each of them seized the opportunities presented in Canada to enhance their lives and excel as professionals in their chosen fields.
Paul Diaz has a master’s degree in mining and metallurgy engineering from the University of Toronto and has established himself as a successful professional in Chile. Maria E. Oliva, an accountant by profession, has held important roles with Canadian organizations involved in international development. Southlink founder, Cesar Caneo has dedicated his career to the non-for-profit sector, occupying senior management positions and specializing in cooperatives, social economy, food insecurity, and charity development; he currently serves as Board Chair of Southlink.
At SouthLink we encourage a participatory development approach, or what is sometimes referred to as popular participation. Where the people take an active and influential role in shaping decisions that affect their lives, making political and economic choices collectively, and using support from outsiders.
Strong local organizations and community participation
Appropriate tenure systems that protect ecosystems
Mutual benefits and sharing of resources
Local knowledge and sustainable practices
People’s Power embodies the complete utilization of local autonomy by communities within their territories, covering political, social, cultural, environmental, and all aspects of communal progress, utilizing a variety of organizational structures that they deem fit.