Cuba - News for Educational Workers - Brief Article

Radical Teacher, Winter, 2002

Cuba hosted 21 American students from July 15 to August 14, 2002. Sponsored by the Interlocken International Camp, the exchange had students meet with their Cuban hosts, practice language skills, learn Latin dances, discuss differences between capitalistic and socialist economies, do community service projects, and visit cultural sites like a tobacco factory and the famous Bay of Pigs. A documentary film of the interaction between Cubans and American students was made during the visit, with students involved in all aspects of film production. For more information, contact mail@interlocken.org.

Cuban Social Work education is on the rise in response to the major socioeconomic problems developed in Cuba in the 1990s that require new and comprehensive solutions. The collapse of the former Soviet Union and its subsequent withdrawal of economic assistance to Cuba, the tightening of the U.S. embargo and Cuba's increased participation in the global economy have created disparities for Cubans. Those Cubans most affected by the worsening economic conditions, such as the disabled, prisoners, pregnant teenagers and single mothers, senior citizens, children, and an increasing number of out-of-school and unemployed youth, have become the priority for outreach and development in the new social work projects. (Social Work Today, September, 2002, www.socialworktoday.com/socialworktoday.asp)

The Disarm Education Fund, in a special report from Edward Asner, states that the end of the Cuban embargo may be near and funds are needed to push toward that end. To contribute or for more information, call 212-979-1583, or go to www.disarm.org.