[van-announce] Help a youth go to Cuba

[Marcel Hatch]

(Please share this letter with young people wanting to visit Cuba)

Cuba for young people
who want to get to know
the island's people and
contribute socially, politically
and culturally.

Dear Vancouver Activist Friends,

Cuba Education Tours and Books Collective is thrilled to announce our 
new project to help young people experience Cuba.

Just launched, Real Cuba Youth Tours, is a low-cost program for youth 
ages 18 to 25 to explore the island. The tours are designed for youth 
to enjoy significant interaction with their Cuban counterparts and 
learn some Spanish too. Detailed information is available at 
http://www.CubaSolidarity.ca

The first tour kicks off March 9, 2003 for two incredible weeks in 
western Cuba. Our Cuban partner and sponsor MOVPAZ (Cuban Movement 
for Peace and People's Sovereignty) will host participants across 
four provinces and introduce them to many organizations working for 
peace, equality and progress on the island. This people-intensive 
tour will also explore museums, ecological, historical and cultural 
sites.

Tour leader Lanie Schachter-Snipper is a veteran Latin American 
traveller and volunteer. Residing in Havana, Lanie, who inspired Real 
Cuba Youth Tours, considers the inaugural March 2003 Spring Break 
tour groundbreaking.

"It's really exciting and meaningful for me to be a part of a program 
that will enable socially-minded youth from many backgrounds to 
witness and be a small part of Cuba's people oriented culture," 
explains Lanie.

"Cuban society represents a unique social project that puts people 
first." According to Lanie, a 25 year old McGill University graduate 
fluent in Spanish, "There is no other country whose people enjoy free 
education and healthcare, where no one goes hungry, homeless or 
without jobs or the possibility to contribute to their community."

Leonardo Hechavarria, a Cuban translator living in Vancouver, 
co-developed the Real Cuba Youth Tours with Lanie and MOVPAZ. "I 
jumped at the opportunity to help get young North Americans to visit 
and learn from my country. Despite hardships imposed by a 40 year 
U.S. blockade, we've flourished and freely contributed ideas, 
material assistance, music, dance, literature and art to people 
everywhere."

"When young people go to my country they return inspired to work for 
a better world. That's what being Cuban is all about for me," says 
Leonardo.

Cuba Education Tours and Books Collective is based in Vancouver, BC. 
Its members are Canadians and Cubans who seek to build friendship and 
understanding between North Americans and Cubans. As a not-for-profit 
organization, the collective donates all of its proceeds to computers 
for Cuban NGOs on the island.

Marcel Hatch, a collective member and longtime Cuba solidarity 
activist says, "I am dedicated to this unique project because many 
youth who return from these tours will be re-energized as peace 
activists and plug into their communities to improve them. They'll 
end up doing great things artistically, culturally and politically."

"The Cuba experience moves people to become compassionate social 
activists because they see a real life example of goodness in action 
by a whole people," Marcel proposes.

The collective is geared up to support youth to participate. They 
offer a guide for youth to raise tour funds and will assist U.S. 
participants in obtaining optional U.S. travel licenses. Real Cuba 
Youth Tours is offering a USD$400 bursary for an U.S. student and a 
CAD$600 bursary for a Canadian student. Please write 
<Youth at CubaSolidarity.ca> for details.

"In these trying times there's no better reason witness peace-loving 
Cuba first hand," proposes Lanie. "Great things emerge from a people 
dedicated to each other's health and well-being. Cuba shines bright 
among all countries for this reason alone."

The collective extends a warm welcome to youth of all colours and 
sexes to join the Real Cuba Youth Tour in March 2003. Contact us with 
any question or request for assistance. Our website is 
http://www.CubaSolidarity.ca