![](/articles/cropped/0Sz2-45967177-ks0u-53641129-jovenes-cubanos.jpg)
In keeping with the times they have had to live in, young Cubans have earned a special place in society for their commitment and decisive support in various spheres such as health and science.
By María Josefina Arce
In keeping with the times they have had to live in, young Cubans have earned a special place in society for their commitment and decisive support in various spheres such as health and science.
That is why it is not surprising and is a source of satisfaction that this population segment has a greater presence in the list of candidates for deputies of the National Assembly of People's Power, which has grown by 7% with respect to the current legislature.
According to figures released by the National Nominations Commission, 94 young people between 18 and 35 years of age appear in the list that will be submitted to scrutiny on March 26, which represents 20% of the 470 deputies that will make up the new legislative body.
If the current candidacy is approved at the polls by the people, the average age of the Cuban Parliament will be 46 years old, three years younger than that of the current National Assembly of People's Power.
It is undoubtedly a recognition and confidence in the work carried out by young people in key branches of the country's socioeconomic life. Those who, for example, faced with the difficult situation created by the incidence of COVID 19, joined the actions to confront the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
Young people are an essential part of our healthcare system. From the doctor's and nurse's offices in the community, as well as in the different health institutions, they fought a heroic battle against the virus.
But they were also an essential link in helping vulnerable people in the neighborhoods. These young people took food and medicines to the elderly and pregnant women to prevent them from contracting the virus.
Students of Medical Sciences were also protagonists of the investigations that were carried out throughout the archipelago to detect possible cases of contagion, to provide them with rapid medical attention and also to prevent the spread of COVID 19.
The new generations are also present in other branches such as communications, services, education and in a very important sector such as the energy sector, in which they have shown perseverance and sacrifice, given the difficult situation the country has been going through.
And also young people, together with more experienced colleagues, were in complex scenarios to help the victims of the explosion at the Saratoga Hotel in Havana, and in the communities of western Cuba after the devastating passage of Hurricane Ian, as well as in the fight against the fire at the supertanker base in Matanzas.
And without even a call, they came en masse to donate their blood to help in the recovery of those injured in these tragic events of the past year.
Although the presence of young people in Parliament responds to one of the principles of the Cuban political system, which is to guarantee the representation of all social sectors, the fact that their participation is increasing reflects society's confidence in the new generations.