From November 27 to December 3, Equal Opportunities Day is being held in Las Tunas, promoted by the Cuban Association of People with Physical-Motor Disabilities (Aclifim) in pursuit of social inclusion and with the participation of families.

Las Tunas, Cuba.- The agenda included talks, sports activities, recreational games, and community initiatives. All of this was part of the celebrations for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which is celebrated every December 3.

The De qué Callada Manera gathering, which traditionally hosts the Las Tunas headquarters of the Nicolás Guillén Foundation (FNG), joined this program with the participation of Aclifim associates. Under the direction of the young Raúl Leyva Pupo, writers Lucy Maestre, Aleido Rodríguez, Marina Lourdes Jacobo, Herbert Toranzo, Argel Fernández, and Adriano Galiano shared love poems and other essential topics, written in décimas, sonnets, and free verses.

The poetry of Nicolás Guillén was shared at various times, as well as texts by authors in the style of Eduardo Vidal Fontaine (known as the Poet of War in Las Tunas). The unmistakable rhythm of Benny Moré's music also spiced up the meeting, through a lyrical journey through the work of our National Poet and the book En el ala de nuestro tiempo, which compiles part of his creations. The singer-songwriter Jesús Pérez Cecilia also joined the celebration, with pieces of his authorship, while Marina Lourdes Jacobo read poems from El pasillo de Eva, her most recent book.

Óscar Téllez Acevedo, president of Aclifim in the capital municipality, thanked the meeting on behalf of its members. “I feel proud to be here at the FNG. We have enjoyed the artistic talent of the territory, which brings us culture and spirituality,” he said.

Margarita Josefa Ballar Periche was in the audience with her daughter and grandson. In conversation with 26, she confessed that she likes to read and especially loves poetry. Like her, other people with disabilities smiled, applauded, and were happy there. I thought about how wise it is to approach them, to add them to the activities to be a true, full society. The President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, said well at the inauguration of the VII Congress of Aclifim, held recently: “We will continue to defend the social inclusion of all people with disabilities in Cuba, where all human rights are respected and guaranteed.” In that battle, everyone counts.