(ANS - Santiago de Cuba) – In 1983 the Province of St James the Greater, León, Spain began collaboration with the Salesians of Cuba. Below we publish a portion of the testimony of Fr Luis Martín Cabello, SDB, in which he speaks about his experience with the project Educational Summers.

The pioneer of this project was Fr Eusebio Martínez.  In the summer of 1983 he went to the island to attend meetings planned for Cuban young people engaged in various educational and pastoral areas. Since then, every summer, with just one exception, the Province of León has sent a Salesian and has maintained widespread collaboration.  They have developed several projects including Canasta Basica to meet the needs of the poorest families, and Veranos Educativos which gives children, adolescents and young people the chance of an entertaining summer programme with good values.

In all these years I have listened to the testimonies of those who went to Cuba, but, as often happens, what they tell you is one thing but it is quite another to experience a firsthand encounter with the people, the culture, the society, the climate ... this is irreplaceable, either because things are different when experienced or because when things are heard firsthand, they make a stronger impression on the mind and heart.

My trip started in Santiago de Cuba. I stayed there for ten days to attend to the Educational Summers project, a sort of Citizens Camp, with about 300 young people and forty leaders. The truth is that it was just like at home: very similar games, very similar dynamics, similar songs ... similar problems. This experience can be had also in Peru, Angola, Senegal, Benin, etc. It made ​​me feel that the Salesian spirit has no boundaries and that in any Salesian presence in the world there is a family spirit.And I tried a musical touch...

In the afternoon I had formation sessions with groups of young people who had an interest in vocation. This helped me to learn more about the dreams and problems of Cuban youth.

Published 20/01/2014