Daniel Kebede, president of the British National Education Union (NEU).
By María Josefina Arce
At the beginning of 2022 in the United Kingdom "Viva la Educación" was launched, a solidarity campaign to support Cuba in this important area, affected by the genocidal blockade imposed for more than six decades by the United States against the Cuban people.
Since that time, valuable educational materials for students and teachers have been donated to the largest of the Antilles, which are difficult to acquire due to the hostile U.S. policy that in this area caused damages of more than 30 million dollars from January to July 2021 alone.
In fact, the enormous obstacles imposed by the unilateral measure made it necessary for the 2021-2022 school year to readjust the basic study materials that students receive free of charge, along with pencils, notebooks and other materials.
Members of the Solidarity Campaign and the Education Union of the European nation are the ones promoting this new initiative that supports the Cuban government's effort to maintain quality education.
Computers, notebooks, pencils and other school supplies will now arrive in Cuban territory, as well as musical instruments and ballet shoes for art schools and equipment for sports centers.
"Viva la Educación" has as precedent other successful experiences such as "Toca Cuba", through which in 2019 more than four THOUSAND musical instruments were sent, and "Braille Machines for Cuba", which delivered more than 45 pieces of equipment to schools for visually impaired children.
Precisely special education has been seriously affected by the economic siege. The purchase of equipment such as electric and conventional chairs, among others, is limited.
Likewise, the U.S. blockade has an impact on the maintenance and repair of schools, due to the increase in the cost of the resources needed.
But the UK Solidarity Campaign also provided invaluable support to the Caribbean nation in its confrontation with COVID 19. Numerous donations of medical supplies, including syringes and parts of lung ventilators, were sent to our country.
The friends of Cuba in British territory do not rest either in their constant demand for an end to the US blockade, condemned since 1992 by the UN General Assembly and which causes suffering to Cuban families.
The repudiation of this criminal policy, which only generates isolation and discredit to the United States, is universal. Countless people in the world defend Cuba's right to live without a blockade, to live in peace.
