At each meeting Dueñas and Martínez described the political awakening of an important layer of youth in Cuba today. "The youth are stepping forward," Dueñas told students at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "During the last few years we have seen an increase in political discussion, mobilizations, and strengthening of our revolutionary ideas."

Dueñas is a professor of journalism at the University of Havana and on the National Bureau of the Union of Young Communists (UJC). He explained that although the Cuban economy has improved in recent years, severe economic problems continue due to the abrupt cutoff of trade and aid from the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe a decade ago and the continuation of the U.S. government's economic embargo and other attacks.

The strengthening of the revolution in such economic conditions would never have been possible without the transformation of Cuba over the previous decades, Dueñas emphasized.

"In l959 we began to transform our country from a neocolony of the United States--with huge social problems, widespread poverty, and high rates of illiteracy--into a nation which is now leading on many fronts. In Cuba there is one doctor for every 172 people and we have the highest level of education professionals per capita in the world."

Speaking to students at Columbia College in Chicago, Yanelis Martínez, a law student at the University of Havana and on the National Secretariat of the Federation of University Students, explained that demonstrations organized last year by young people in Cuba to demand Washington return Elián Gonzalez to the country, and ongoing protests against U.S. political and economic attacks, are part of a long history of Cuban resistance to colonial and neocolonial domination.

"This struggle began with the indigenous peoples fighting the Spanish colonists and it continues in Latin America today," Martínez said. "We are the only country not subject to the dictates of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. We are the only country that is free from the wealthy few who exploit the rest of Latin America and working people right here in the United States."

One of the initiatives that is drawing people into study is called the "University for All." Courses in literature, art, language, history, music, computers, and other subjects are taught on television, and are available for the five cents it takes to buy the course book. "Fundamental to this is the belief that knowledge should not be for an exclusive group," Dueñas said. "If you are 50 years old and never had a chance to go to the university, here's your chance. If you are a young worker who didn't get to complete high school, it's there for you."  
 
Decreasing number of youth in prison
Another program, described by Martínez to students at Benedictine University, is aimed at decreasing the number of young people in prisons. "We are giving young people convicted of small crimes the possibility of going to places that are not jails, where they can learn skills and work for a paycheck. The goal is to make it possible for them to come back into society, and where possible, to win them to revolutionary ideas," she said.

At each meeting, Dueñas and Martínez have urged the young people present to continue the dialogue started with their visit by participating in the Second Cuba-U.S. Youth Exchange planned for Havana July 22 to 30. Dozens of students and other young people signed up for more information on the exchange.

The two Cuban youth leaders have also encouraged youth to consider going to the World Festival of Youth and Students, scheduled for Algeria this coming August.

Ne'Keisha Green was one of those who signed up for the July youth exchange after the meeting at Benedictine University. She commented, "What they are doing in Cuba, we should be doing here. I liked what they said about increasing the educational level of the whole population, even the prisoners." Her friend, Samantha Baker, added, "They support each other. There is brotherhood!"

Over the course of the week, Dueñas and Martínez spoke at five college campuses. The largest meetings were 100 at Loyola University, sponsored by the Honors Society of the Communications Department, and 120 at Northeastern University, sponsored by the Latino student group Chimexla.

The Cuban youth met with Mary Johnson, a fighter against the death penalty and police brutality whose son has experienced inhumane treatment while incarcerated at the Tams super maximum security prison. They were taken on a walking tour of sites related to the struggle of Puerto Ricans in Chicago by Luis Galarza, a longtime Puerto Rican rights activist. They also met with farmers during the Family Farm Defenders' conference in Wisconsin.

The week's events were capped off by a "Noche Cubana," sponsored by Casa Guatemala at the Dulce Vida Cafe. A hundred people who crowded into the cafe heard talks by the Cuban youth, listened to music, and enjoyed delicious food prepared by Casa Guatemala activists.
 
 
Related articles:
Youth from Cuba speak on fight to broaden culture
In Canada, Cubans describe 'University for All'
 
 
 
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