Cubanakoa 2015: Island Culture, Sustainability
and Human Rights in Cuba!
May 5 – 14, 2015
Cuba program for the Cubanakoa Foundation
Draft Program
Tuesday, May 5
Late morning: Arrival in Havana at Jose Marti International Airport on Charter flight from Miami. Transfer to the hotel; check in.
Program briefing / Informational meeting
Lunch at hotel or neighborhood restaurant
Afternoon: City tour to sites of environmental, cultural and historical interest, including art galleries, urban gardens and neighborhood development projects. Walking tour of Old Havana with opportunities to talk with local citizens along the way.
Evening: Welcome Dinner with Cuban hosts and guests
Late evening: Cultural Activities (Options include Havana salsa club)
Wednesday, May 6
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Visit to the Antonio Núnez Jimenez Foundation for Nature and Humanity (FANJ). Panel discussion on Cuba's policies and practice in environmental protection and sustainable development
Lunch with FANJ staff at paladar (restaurant in private home)
Afternoon: Visit urban permaculture gardens in and around Havana with FANJ staff
Dinner at the hotel
Evening: Cultural Activities / Speaker Presentations*
Thursday, May 7
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Meeting with Cuban physicians and social workers for discussion of public health and social welfare practice in Cuba, historically and currently
Lunch
Afternoon: Meeting with Cuban educators and on the 1961 Cuban Literacy Campaign, the structure and goals of Cuba's education system, preschool – advanced degrees, special education, the integration of the arts in the educational setting and the Latin American Medical School
Dinner at the hotel
Evening: Cultural Activities / Speaker Presentations*
Friday, May 8
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Take the Ferry across the Bay of Havana to the Municipality of Regla and its renowned Church, La Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Regla y La Santisima Virgen de Regla – with its main alter of a black Madonna venerated in the Catholic faith in Cuba and associated in the Santeria religion with “Yemaya,” the “Orisha” of the ocean, protector of sailors, etc. Visit the Casa/Templo Orunmila
Lunch in Regla
Afternoon: Visit to the Guanabacoa Community Cultural Center and Museum, famous for its Afro-Cuban Cultural exhibits/collections on slavery, Santeria and other Yoruba/Afro-Cuban religions and cultural traditions
Visit to the Fernando Ortiz Foundation for discussion of culture and history of Guanabacoa and "the similarities of Caribbean and Pacific Island Cultures"
Dinner at the hotel
Evening: Cultural Options / Speaker Presentations
Saturday, May 9
Breakfast at the hotel
All Day: Eco community of Las Terrazas in the Biosphere Reserve of Sierra del Rosario in Pinar del Rio. Visit to the museum, artists’ galleries, family doctor clinic in the community, the organic garden that supplies the El Romero Vegetarian Restaurant
Lunch at El Romero Restaurant and meeting/talk with Chef Tito Nunez
Afternoon: Hike in the Bio-Reserve with Cuban naturalists; swim in San Juan River
Late afternoon: Drive to Viñales Valley
Dinner at the hotel
Evening: Meeting with Viñales CDR, Cuban neighborhood association that oversees community needs; opportunity to visit with Cubans in their homes
Sunday, May 10
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Hike in Viñales Valley, one of Cuba's most beautiful nature preserves, with Cuban naturalist. Learn about Cuban karstland, mogotes, caves and underground rivers and the community that lives and works within the preserve.
Lunch in Viñales Valley
Afternoon: Visit rural organic cooperative farm and/or tobacco farm and/or local arts and ecology center for people with special needs; opportunity to visit with farmers, workers and social service providers and recipients
Late Afternoon: Return to Havana
Dinner at the hotel
Evening: Cultural Options / Speaker Presentations*
Monday, May 11
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Meeting with CENESEX, the Cuban Center for Sex Education, to discuss current policy and practice regarding gender and gender identity issues and sex education in Cuba
Lunch at Casa de la Amistad
Early Afternoon: Meeting with representative of the North America Division of the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) for discussion of current issues in US-Cuba relations
Mid Afternoon:
Dinner at the hotel
Evening: Cultural Options /Speaker Presentations
Tuesday, May 12
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Talk by representatives of various disciplines from the Cuban Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment on the issues island nations face in the era of climate change
Lunch in Central Havana
Afternoon:
Dinner at the hotel
Evening: Cultural Options /Speaker Presentationsl
Wednesday, May 13
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Visit to the Instituto Superior de Arte or School of Ballet. Chance to watch/hear students perform and to talk with students and faculty
Lunch in the neighborhood of artist, Jose Fuster, in the coastal community of Jaimanitas; cultural exchange and visit to Fuster's home/studio
Afternoon: Free time in Havana for individual educational pursuits
Late Afternoon: Re-entry and Evaluation meeting with Cuban guides and hosts
Evening: Farewell Dinner with Cuban hosts and guests
Late Evening: Cultural Activities
Thursday, May 14
Breakfast at the hotel
Mid-morning check out and departure for the airport for return flight to Miami
* Possible evening speaker presentations, additional meetings/site visits and optional cultural activities:
Talk on changes in Cuba's economic, political and social policies and practices since the dissolution of the Soviet bloc with journalist Marc Frank
Meeting with Dr. Alberto Roque and other members of Cuba’s Multidisciplinary Association for Sexuality Studies and Cuba’s National commission for Transsexual Care
Talk on Cuba's renewable energy and energy efficiency policy and programs
Other according to interests of individual participants
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.