Back from a week in Baire, a smiling (really) disaster (really) near Santiago de Cuba, what do we have to share? It’s too long to give you a complete picture of Cuba’s situation; we’ll provide some highlights (still lengthy :)) and if anyone wants to know more, feel free to contact us privately.

We saw a destroyed country; we met Don Carlo in person, an Italian priest who inspires trust and whom we will help; we left him some aid; we visited projects he or others in the area oversee, we talked, listened, discussed, asked, and understood at least a little bit. In short, we had a first taste of Cuba to begin to “better target” the aid that ATF could offer.

About Cuba, at least the rural Cuba of Baire, what can we say? In short, everything is lacking; food, transportation, fuel are very scarce and extremely expensive; medicines are either unavailable or exorbitantly priced; continuous blackouts make any planning impossible; normal salaries do not allow people to organize themselves decently even for food, let alone maintaining a motorcycle or a car.

Healthcare, education, and social facilities exist but lack the materials to function. Soon, even “human capital” will be missing: those who can are fleeing Cuba. Very few young people are interested in studying: there are no prospects. Daily life is a maze where one constantly hits walls.

How the Cubans manage to keep smiling and take it philosophically is something only they know.

Past and present: what has ATF done?

First of all, we left Don Carlo the aid collected in Italy: medicines, two computers; pencils, notebooks, games, 8 phones for single mothers, and 2500 euros, with which three sewing machines have been bought so far for three single mothers who have joined the aid program, and a television to attract children to after-school activities.

We visited all the activities carried out both in his parish and around Baire for children, young people, the elderly, the disabled, single mothers, and school aid courses. Some initiatives are started and followed by Don Carlo; others are led by other people.

Future: what can be done?

We are slowly trying to direct our efforts towards many useful things; of course, it takes time to understand, learn, and decide.

Currently, ATF is focused on:

• Donation of materials, including medicines: many are needed, of all kinds. The main problem is how to get them there; we will look for solutions.
• An assistance initiative, which ATF has already started for a group of single mothers and their children followed by Don Carlo; in the future, there could be other projects for other people in need, but it’s still to be seen.
• A development project, also for single mothers: sewing or other craft activities. For now, ATF has offered to pay for some sewing machines, the sewing teacher’s salary, and study materials.

Additionally, we are exploring possibilities for:

• Support for after-school and exam preparation courses, with notebooks and a small salary for teachers. We will soon know what to do.
• A kind of university scholarship. Discussions are ongoing, and we will see what the modalities and beneficiaries could be. We will update you.
• Support for a daycare that would allow single mothers (and not only) to look for a job, leaving their children in a facility that takes care of them.
• There are other contacts and opportunities that could develop, but we will talk about them later when there are more concrete elements.

Here are the photos of everything we saw, bought, and delivered to Don Carlo; as soon as possible, we will also show you the delivery to the beneficiaries and other photos of the activities.

Are you intrigued and interested in helping Cuba? Contact us privately, and we’ll talk!