The cultural conception of development goes far beyond the artistic-literary aspect, becoming intertwined with seemingly unconnected areas such as food production. The Center for Exchange and Reference-Community Initiative (CIERIC), linked to the work of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC), plays an important role in the learning process that seeks to generate healthy and useful practices for society.
Among the projects that are growing with its wise accompaniment is the Dynamization and Development of the Sociocultural and Productive Life of the Municipality of Majibacoa, made up of six microprojects: El Nido Cultural Laboratory, starring young artists; Arcoíris, which works with children; Los Velázquez, a family dedicated to family agriculture and agro-ecological practices; Parque Infantil, an example of healthy recreation; La Unión, the result of the joint efforts of two producers; and Mujeres de Blanca Rosa (also called Blanca Rosa se Reanima), which trains women from that settlement.
INSIDE
"CIERIC is a blessing. Not only in event management but also for the learning we acquired in workshops on gender, communication, how to improve gastronomic activities and other topics. It enriches the soul and the intellect.
"Dinamización... began in 2021 and ends in 2024. It has been a great pleasure. Except for El Nido, which is located in Las Tunas, the microprojects are located in the community of Blanca Rosa. There coexist humble people with a high rate of alcoholism, manifestations of machismo, and other characteristics. The initiative shows them a different path, a path of light," said Adriana Barrera, director of the Majibacoa Cultural Development Management Center.
She acknowledged that, although there is still a long way to go, it has contributed in several ways to the advancement of the region. Elaine Lorenzo Rosales, a specialist in Cultural Programs and coordinator of Blanca Rosa Women, added: "We offer sources of employment to local women, we contribute to their better insertion into society and we promote cultural and recreational options: training, exhibitions, film debates...
"We started with 15 members; some of them were already engaged in handicrafts, but most of them did not work, barely left home, or were marked by alcoholism, domestic violence, and other scourges. We have linked several of them to the labor market. They take part in workshops and fairs; they improve themselves and interact with local factors. On the sewing machines that were delivered as part of the project, they make dolls and other handicrafts, which they then exhibit and sell. In addition, the La Presa ranchón (a fixed and suitable space for the meetings) was rehabilitated and the family gets involved in our activities".
One of the founders of the fellowship is Mailín Fuentes Hidalgo, who is happy to be part of it. "We want to add more women, there are women here who weave, sew and make a variety of clothes. We take our exhibitions to different places in the municipality, we share experiences and we have also received training from creators from other provinces", she explained.
For its part, "El Nido includes young entrepreneurs and artists who defend the creative economy. Although we do not yet have our own space to share proposals, we have carried out several actions of socio-cultural revival, under the leadership of singer-songwriter Iraida Williams. I, who am a professor of Social Communication, have been able to give lectures on the ceremonial protocol to Mujeres de Blanca Rosa and promote social networking workshops," said Yosy Gómez Villamar, a member of El Nido.
"Dinamización... is an international cooperation project, since the German organization Bread for the World collaborates with us," said Liliana Gómez Ramos, CIERIC coordinator in the eastern region. The directive exposed as achievements that the microprojects that embrace the economic-productive part increase their collections with fixed points for sale, alliances are created with Education so that children and young people learn about the production in the farm Los Velázquez, and Arcoíris promotes presentations in different places.
"Some people think that CIERIC only advises projects that have to do with art expressions and this is not so, because we defend the cultural conception of development. The members of initiatives that contemplate culture from their identity, whatever it may be, can approach our headquarters, next to the Provincial Committee of UNEAC (in front of Maceo Park, in the capital city).”
"There they would look for information and take those steps that make it easier for us to accompany them. We can identify opportunities, and draft or perfect their conception and related tasks. Having a methodological design not only allows for greater organization but also the possibility of thinking - for example - about international collaboration or submitting a local development project," he said.
AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW
"This year, 24 projects from the east were presented to the Community Cultural Initiatives Contest, in its regional chapter, of which 11 were finalists, four of them from Las Tunas. In 2024, they will represent us at the national level, where the best of the 24th edition of the contest will be chosen.
"Those emanating from our land are: Local Network of Sustainable Ecotourism in the Municipality of Jesús Menéndez (Agroforestry Company of that locality), Hipercomunicating-Promotion of Socio-Cultural Diversity in Jobabo Multimedia Platforms (Radio Cabaniguán), EliArte (Cándido González Horta Culture House, 'Colombia') and Dreams and Hopes (Tomasa Varona Culture House, UNEAC Provincial Committee and Performing Arts branch)," Gómez Ramos argued.
Through the lid, CIERIC encourages practices that contribute to youth and women empowerment, as well as sustainable development. According to Liliana, even those who were not finalists received suggestions to improve their work.
"In recent times we have had an important accompaniment in the preparation of the strategy for provincial progress. We have created groups, we have established relationships with the University of Las Tunas and territorial development offices, we have rescued projects that traditionally had an impact, we have identified opportunities and we have created other synergies. We need a socio-cultural approach to development, collective construction for the common good," he added.
