Support Cubans
Supporting Cubans
Hello friends & welcome back to our Cuban adventure. Alas! Our journey is almost at an end! But, don’t forget, soon I’ll be picking a new country & continuing this process so that together, we can learn everything about everywhere! If you are enjoying this content, please know that subscribing to this blog is the most valuable way you can show your support (to me, not the Cubans!). I only send one email a month linking to that month’s content & announcing the next TMi! So, sign up to make sure you don’t miss a thing.
Today however, we’re not focusing on support for SIWYOE! We’re looking at ways to support Cubans. In my last post, we looked at how Cuban’s lives are affected on a day-to-day basis by the government’s regime. Today, I’ll be sharing resources & ideas for us to help make a difference and influence change.
TL; DR: Keep scrollin’, scrollin’, scrollin’ scrollin’ what. Head to the bottom for a summary of this post.
Ways to Support Cubans
Visit
Tourism is an enjoyable way to put currency into the hands of Cubans. Plus, there is a tonne of information out there because since Trump restricted travel, most US citizens can only enter the country on a ‘support for the Cuban people’ trip. Americans are limited to where they can legally stay, e.g. no hotels because they’re all owned by the government. For a full list of establishments banned to US citizens, check here.
This will likely have a ginormous impact on tourism so support from other parts of the world will be very welcome.
How Can a Holiday Help?
In the most obvious ways. Stay in Airbnb’s instead of gov owned hotels, eat at local restaurants, spend your money on local businesses. (You know, that whole support local thing that would make the entire world a better place if we all did it at home too!). Take part in local excursions, tip where you feel it’s deserved – and even where it’s not if you’re feeling generous. Remember what £5 means to you and what it might mean to someone earning £23 a month.
My next (and final… sob) post will focus on planning a trip to Cuba, make sure you check it out for some inspiration.
Donate
In my previous post I wrote about the struggle for internet & linked to Yoani Sanchez’s blog Generacion Y. She has a great section on ‘how to help’. If you’re planning a trip to Cuba & have old (unlocked) mobile phones or laptops that are gathering dust, why not bring them along & donate them? Screw Mazuma. This way you can do something nice & have made some space in your case to bring home some local gifts!
Awareness
Congratulations! Just by being here, you’ve raised your awareness. By learning the history & struggles the country & people have faced, you’ve (hopefully) gained a logical and empathetic understanding. Personally, I think that’s the perfect balance and aim to help all of us (myself included!) drop any prejudices we’ve picked up along the way from the media and those sneaky algorithms. Knowledge intact, we can go forth trying our best to make a positive difference in the world whenever or wherever we get the chance.
Follow
Face Cuban Exiles
As stated on their site ‘FACE’s mission is to promote, foster and improve the reputation and image of persons of Cuban origin and their descendants in the United States, and worldwide.’
Human Rights Watch
Pretty self explanatory… Human Rights Watch, whilst not purely Cuba focussed, is a great page to increase your awareness of global issues.
The Borgen Project
Aim to fight extreme poverty globally. They also have some handy tips on how to support Cubans.
Read
Firstly, I must mention Cuba: A Captivating Guide to the History of Cuba & Havana, The Cuban Revolution & Fidel Castro.
I used up one of my audible credits for this 4-in-1 book and enjoyed every second of it. I would listen whilst out walking. Taking notes on my phone for people or things I wanted to know more about. There’s some overlap among the 4 books, but I found that each one enriched my understanding that bit more. Each book chose different points of focus which made it feel like I was getting more pieces to the puzzle every time I listened. This would be perfect pre-holiday listening if you want to visit historical points of interest.
Hispanic Heritage Month
Did you know that 15th of September to 15th of October is Hispanic Heritage Month? How handy you’ve been brushing up on some Hispanic history yourself! Well if you’re interested in expanding your knowledge & awareness further, Good Reads actually created a list for exactly that. You can check it out here.
Watch
I read this post, highlighting the films that appealed to me (loads of them) and then struggled to get my hands on any of them!
7 Days in Havana
I did manage to rent ‘7 days in Havana’ from Mubi (using a 7-day free trial via Prime). 7 directors, 7 days. The film covers various topics like LGBTQ & immigration whilst illustrating day-to-day life in Cuba. I particularly enjoyed director Elia Suleiman’s section. There are ups & downs & LOL moments. If you’re guided by curiosity, give this film a look in.
Buena Vista Social Club Adios
This documentary is the most wholesome thing I have watched in a long time. It really got me at points. These guys were so in love with making music & they rocked it until the very end. I chose to watch this on a complete whim and was so pleased I did. Rent it via YouTube or Google Play. You’ll get snippets of Cuba’s history, culture, music scene and super passionate old people that will make you smile. What more could you ask for?
The flowers of life come to everyone sooner or later
Joanna Lumley’s Hidden Caribbean: Havana to Haiti
I was looking through the TV guide in the midst of my Cuba immersion & imagine my surprise when I was faced with Havana! I watched this properly on ITV hub– a two part series that was the final piece of my Cuban puzzle. It brought everything I had read about to life.
Bye!
Before you go, if you’re aware of any ways to support Cubans that I haven’t mentioned, please get in touch! I’d be happy to update with further resources.
Friends, we are coming near the end of our virtual Cuban adventure! I hope you’ll join me for my final instalment where we’ll imagine our tour of Cuba.
Until then, take care & remember… No Info is Too Much Info
xoxo
TL ; DR – Go to Cuba, spend your money on locals, donate any old tech. Raise your awareness, follow, read & watch the resources shared in this post for an enriched understanding of Cuba.
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