Image / Juventud rebelde

By María Josefina Arce

Fifty-five years have passed since the physical disappearance of a man who shared part of his short life with the Cuban people, together with whom he fought for their independence and stood shoulder to shoulder in the beginning of this transforming work that is the revolution.

The Heroic Guerrilla Ernesto Che Guevara is an example of perseverance, sacrifice and selflessness, who put all his energy and determination in favor of the welfare of others. A tireless fighter and worker, it was not uncommon to see him, together with the people, in any task that was needed.

His legacy is alive and well and is strongly present in the Cuban youth, who in the difficult times that the country has had to live through, are marching in the vanguard.

Cuban youth have been fully committed to help in the provinces affected by the recent passage of Hurricane Ian. From all parts of the national territory they have come to the west, especially to Pinar del Río, which suffered the greatest damage.

As Ché taught us, they work tirelessly in the recovery of that province together with the people of Pinar del Río. They can be seen working on the electrical network, cleaning, reconstruction, agriculture and assistance to the most vulnerable people.

And there they are in the day of voluntary work, which takes place today and will continue tomorrow throughout the archipelago, convened by the Central de Trabajadores de Cuba. It is also undoubtedly the best tribute to Che, the main promoter of this activity.

There are many examples of solidarity and invaluable contribution of the younger generations. The students of the University of Havana have contributed to the collection of donations for the families most affected by Ian in Pinar del Rio.

In Mayabeque, also with damages, students and professors of the Agrarian University gave their assistance to those most affected in the municipality of Batabanó, in that province.

"The hands and encouragement of the youth will not be lacking...", affirmed the first secretary of the Communist Youth Union, Aylin Alvarez. And it certainly has not been lacking, just as it was not lacking when the fire at the supertanker base in Matanzas, last August, nor when the explosion at the Saratoga Hotel, in the Cuban capital, two months earlier.

During the two years of the COVID 19 pandemic, the youth was also in the front line, in the medical attention to the sick, in the community-by-community investigations, in the isolation centers and in the assistance to the most vulnerable people.

Che is replicated in every young Cuban who fights for the advancement of the country and the improvement of the living conditions of every compatriot. Today, as the Heroic Guerrilla aspired, the youth is the first in many fronts.