Introduction:

The Cuban Institute of Friendship with the People (ICAP), in its commendable work of promoting solidarity contact with countries and friends of Cuba, has been given the task of organising Projects within Cuba.

Working with ICAP, the Melbourne Branch of the ACFS (as do other Australian States and Territories), continues to raise money for the completion of a variety of often essential projects within Cuba.

The following is a brief summary of the projects completed to date...

"Calixto García Iñiguez” Special School Improvements in Bayamo, Granma Province.

Cost:                 AUS $3,500            or             US $2971.40

The project aims to improve living conditions in the special school “Calixto García Iñiguez” in Bayamo, Granma Province.  The building was constructed in the first decade of the 1900s as a house.  Later it became a hotel and was converted into a school in 1987.  The students of this school suffer from serious intellectual disabilities; their conditions include cerebral palsy, epilepsy and Down’s syndrome.  Currently there are 78 students and 29 staff.

 The amount required to complete the project is $2,971.40 US (approximately $3,500 Aus at the time of writing) and will be used to purchase various items for the school; particularly equipment for the storage and preparation of food, but also improved lighting and ventilation and some musical equipment.

Micro Hydro-Electric System - Media Luna, Granma Province

Cost:                 AUS $8,650.00          or          US $5,792.00 

The absence of electricity in this part of Cuba has naturally created poorer conditions for the locals and adversely affected their educational and cultural development.

Their health needs were also affected, because medicines could not be stored and food went 'off'.  The lack impeded agricultural work and coffee production, both basic staples of the population.

The construction and establishment of the plant will be carried out by special brigades already working in the province, who will maintain the system after is starts operating.

Having a supply of electricity will allow the people to see television, listen to the radio and give them access to educational aids.  Perhaps more importantly, it will provide power for more basic needs like stoves and irons, thereby diminishing the necessity to chop down trees.  The doctor, part of Cuba's highly esteemed and vital community health network, will be able to refrigerate medicines, sterilise equipment and treat people after dark.  There are plans to establish a dental surgery.

Food in the shop can be stored for longer periods without losing its quality, absolutely essential in a tropical country.

So you can see how important this project is for a small community of Cuban people, and for us to give them a helping hand, because we tend to take such things for granted.

Micro Hydro-Electric System - El Almendral, Granma Province

Cost:                 AUS $7,313.00          or          US $4,600.00 

This is our second Micro-Hydro-electric system to satisfy the needs of a school, shop and family doctor's surgery.

Hurricane Michelle Relief

Money raised - Melbourne ACFS - AUS$1,700.00      Albury Branch - AUS$ 450.00

Total                  AUS $2,150.00          or          US $1,107.00

Money raised during December 2001 functions was sent to Cuba to be used in a manner deemed appropriate by ICAP for the benefit of the Cuban people affected by Hurricane Michelle.

Day Care Centre "Mambisitos de Baraguá"

Cost:                                                                  US $1,700.00

The education in Cuba is a task of the first order, which is why innumerable efforts are made for all children to have a quality education with the minimum resources considering the present situation of the country.

The municipality of Sancti Spiritus has an area of 115.065 sq km with 126,669 inhabitants, of whom 108,332 live in the urban zone and 18,328 live in the countryside and including 3 towns, 12 communities and 18 small villages.  The day care centre "Mambisitos de Baraguá" is in the centre of the city.

The Project includes purchase of technical equipment in this centre which lacks the minimum conditions for the food storage and well-being of the children.  The acquisition of this equipment will facilitate an improvement to the conditions of the life there.