A growing trend in transnational social movements is the joint efforts of migrants to maintain and foster links with their places of origin through the creation and organization of ‘hometown associations’ (HTAs). HTAs are established not only in response to the social and cultural challenges faced by new immigrants in adjusting to life in a foreign country, but also to fund small-scale development projects in home communities through collective remittances. 13 They are philanthropic units formed by immigrants, who seek to support their places of origin, maintain relationships with local communities and retain a sense of community while they reside in foreign countries (Orozco 2000; Orozco 2003b; Merz 2005). HTAs are active throughout major migrant destinations, such as.
