Change Through Exchange
From Roots of Hope Wiki
| Interacting with youth in Cuba |
|---|
| Traveling to the Island |
| Study Abroad and Academic Resources |
| Research Institutions and Think Tanks |
| Volunteering |
| Cell Phones and Calls to Cuba |
| Packages and Correspondence |
| Internet-based Communication |
| Solidarity Travel |
| Cuba, Cuban Culture, and News |
| Socially Responsible Artistic and Cultural Exchange |
| Culture |
| Blogging |
| Blog Translations |
| News |
| Suggested Literary Readings |
| Cuban Literary Sites |
| Suggested Background Readings |
Welcome to the Exchange Guide Roots of Hope's guide for meaningful contact with Cuba
Generation ñ, Generation Y – call us what you want. But we Cuban, Cuban American, or Cuba-loving students and young people that make up the Roots of Hope network are a generation on the move. We are a generation that is constantly nurturing, discovering, and reawakening our passion for Cuba and its people. We may not agree on a lot of things (ask two Cubans the same question and you’ll get 5 opinions), but we all share the belief that young people on and off the island should be the authors of their own futures; that together they can help promote a thriving Cuban society and that one day Cubans on the island, in the United States, and everywhere else on this earth (because we are everywhere) can unite and reconcile as one Cuban nation.
Harsh realities make such lofty ideals seem impractical and overly idealistic, but change never came easy. It takes work, time, and above all, passion. We can all do our part. How? Simple: by reaching out to that island and exchanging stories, ideas, and know-how with its citizens – whether indirectly or directly, in person or over the phone, on or off-line. Everyone can benefit not only by learning something new, but also by challenging and exploring their own preconceived notions of what life is like inside or outside of Cuba.
Why Reach Out?
I. Knowledge. Reaching out helps Cubans on the island gain exposure to information, culture, resources, ways of life, and experiences from which they might have been isolated. Additionally it helps you better understand the reality of life in Cuba and how we can help. By interacting with people directly on the island you can begin to form your own opinions and ideas instead of simply relying on media and second-hand accounts.
II. Perspective. With increasing knowledge comes the need to interpret and assimilate it. For those of us who were not born in Cuba, it is especially vital that we not only absorb the collective memories and experiences of our friends and families, but also discover and learn about the Cuba of today – culturally, socially, politically, and economically – for ourselves. Engaging directly Cuban youth on the island will not only change your perspectives but theirs as well, as both share new ideas and histories.
III. Activism and Education. Reaching out can help us shine a spotlight on human rights concerns and identify sources of repression. It can also educate us to appreciate Cubans’ often unique and varied hopes for their future – as well as how their ideas compare to our own. Reaching out can help us understand the ways many Cubans in the arts, academics, and even politics push boundaries in their own rights, forging spaces for critical expression. Reaching out can help us better grasp a multi-textured Cuban society that defies black-and-white narratives.
IV. Dialogue. Reaching out can help us think critically and exchange opinions about “taboo” issues - whether the role of the United States, other members of the international community, and the Cuban Diaspora in Cuba’s future, or the legacies of the revolution and its aftermath. Breaking down barriers through people-to-people exchanges is a must if reconciliation is ever to be a reality.
V. Family Ties. Reaching out to Cuba allows many of us to sustain, rediscover, or build family ties – links that can overcome divisions of politics, economics, and time to form the bedrock of the future reconciliation of the Cuban nation.
VI. Community-Building. Reaching out also allows us to form friendships and continue building a transnational community that moves beyond ideological divisions to find points of cultural and human connection.
There are many ways to engage with Cuban youth, and that is precisely what this guide is about. It is meant to be a direct and user-friendly resource to exchange, from direct travel to academic and cultural initiatives. We hope that it will facilitate and encourage your curiosity about a vibrant and dynamic culture.
