The Ernesto Che Guevara Volunteer Work
Brigade has been an amazing opportunity
for people living in Canada to travel to Cuba,
immerse themselves in the Cuban reality
and learn about its gains and achievements.
Hundreds of people of various ages, abilities,
skills and backgrounds have participated
since 1993. The brigade is organized by
the Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC) and
the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the
Peoples (ICAP).
26 participants from all across
Canada joined this year 24
th
Che
Guevara Volunteer Work Brigade
for two full weeks of adventure,
volunteering, learning & fun! The
Che brigade combines volunteer
work with a cultural, social
and political program visiting
different historical sites, schools,
clinics and yes, even the beach!
The brigade visited the provinces
of Artemisa, Cienfuegos and
Villa Clara. The brigade arrived
to Cuba on April 30th, and started
its journey in the province of
Artemisa. Brigadistas stayed
at the Julio Antonio Mella
International Camp in Caimito.
This camp was also host to 200 international
delegates to the May Day International
Solidarity Brigade. This created a great
opportunity for brigadistas to connect and
exchange with social justice and Cuba
solidarity activists from around the world.
May 1, May Day, Workers Day, A Big and
Special Day in Cuba
In the darkness of the early morning of May
1, everyone at the camp awoke to the songs
of Silvio Rodriguez and started to get ready
for the exciting day ahead. We got in buses
and drove to Havana for the International
Worker’s Day celebration, where every year
more than a million people, gather for the
May Day parade at the Plaza de la Revolucion
at the foot of the giant statues of national
heroes Che Guevara and Jose Marti.
As the sun started rising over beautiful
Havana, hundreds of thousands of people
flood the streets carrying colorful signs
and flags, dancing, singing and chanting to
celebrate their Revolution. Marchers called
for the end to the U.S. blockade on Cuba and
the return of Gunatanamo Bay to Cuba.
On May 2nd, international delegates to May
Day and Cuba solidarity activist from around
the world gathered in the Havana International
Conference Center for the International
Meeting in Solidarity with Cuba. Brigadistas
heard speeches from representative of the
Cuban government and delegates from the
solidarity movement around the world.
Organisers with Vancouver Communities in
Solidarity with Cuba and Friends of Cuba
Against the U.S. Blockade -Vancouver
participated at the conference. Brigadista
Azza Rojbi, coordinator of Friends of Cuba
Against the U.S. Blockade -Vancouver,
spoke as representatives of the solidarity
movement with Cuba in Canada. The event
was important for further connecting with
other solidarity groups around the world and
sharing experiences. (Click here to read Azza's speech)
In the spirit of Ernesto Che Guevara, the
Brigade took part in volunteer work at organic
farm cooperatives (organoponico). We had
the honor to work alongside representative
from the the Federation of Cuban Women
(Federación de Mujeres Cubanas—FMC).
We got to meet them, share anecdotes, ask
questions and learn more about the gains
and challenges of Cuban Women since the
revolution. Brigadistas were astonished to
hear about the high level of participation of
Cuban women in the political and economic
life of the country. 49% of deputies to the
Cuban National Assembly are women, while
in the case of the Provincial Assemblies,
women delegates comprise 50.5%.
The brigade program was very rich and
diverse. We visited schools, cultural
centers, museums, historical sights,
hospitals and community projects. We also
had the opportunity to meet with Cuban
artists, representatives from Cuban mass
organizations and from all levels of the Cuban
Government, such as elected representatives
of the National Assembly of People’s Power.
Those meetings and visits brought us a greater
understanding of how a small island which
has been under constant attack by the most
aggressive country in the world for over 50
years, can still be an example for building the
better world.
Another highlight of the trip
was the visit to the Ernesto Che
Guevara memorial center and
mausoleum in Santa Clara. The
mausoleum houses the remains
of Che Guevara and 29 of his
fellow co-fighters killed in 1967 in
Bolivia. The brigade honored his
legacy by laying a wreath under
the grand status of Che overseeing
the memorial center. The visit
was very powerful and emotional
as brigadistas got to learn more
about the life of Comandante Che
Guevara and the ideals he stood
and fought for.
The Che Guevara Volunteer Work
Brigade is an incredible way to
visit Cuba, to dig deeper into its
fascinating culture, to learn about its social
gains, to understand its challenges and to
make an important contribution through your
volunteer work.
Next year will be the 25
th
anniversary
of the brigade. It will be a unique
opportunity for you to travel to Cuba and
experience the Brigade for yourself. For
more information about the Che Guevara
Volunteer Work Brigade, you can visit the
website at www.canadiannetworkoncuba.
ca/brigade, e-mail chevolbrigade@gmail.
com, or in British Columbia, you can also
contact B.C. Coordinators Tamara Hansen
and Thomas Davies at 778-882-5223 or
vancubasolidarity@gmail.com
Follow Azza Rojbi on Twitter:
@Azza_R14
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