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Program Description
Brigadista Volunteer Program in Cuba
Description
Solidarity Brigades are holidays with a difference. Aside from volunteering, you get to mix with people of different ages and backgrounds from all over the world, and learn about a fascinating country. Members of the Brigade (Brigadistas) stay on the Julio Antonio Mella camp in the countryside, about 30 minutes from Havana.
Part of the Brigade involves undertaking voluntary work. Past Brigadistas have taken part in a range of projects, from picking fruit and clearing wood in agricultural areas to building schools and painting museums.
As well as voluntary work, your time in Cuba will contain cultural visits to some of Cuba's museums, educational visits to hospitals, schools and community projects, trips to the delightful Cuban beaches and lush Cuban countryside and a number of optional excursions.
Ratings and Reviews
2 of 5 people found this review helpful
Life-changing Experience!
From first arriving in sunny Havana I was made to feel welcome and appreciated - I'd already got to know the UK group on the flight, and we were picked up by ICAP (the host organisation) and taken straight to the CIJAM (camp).
The stay was a mixture of talks (we met veterans of the Revolution, community organisers, union representatives and political campaigners), film showings, excursions (to the AMAZING beaches, and to Santa Clara, the Museum of the Revolution, Che Guevara's memorial, Havana and loads, loads more), dancing and drinking (sometimes too much rum, but it never ran out!), and plenty of other things. We did our voluntary work in the fields nearby - early starts, but early finishes too meaning we had a chance for a nice siesta to recover. The Cuban workers we met were so friendly it was lovely, and no-one was expected to do more than they could.
The camp is basic - dorms, bunkbeds, washing facilities not worth mentioning - but this is more than made up for by the amazing atmosphere. I am desperately saving up to go again as soon as possible, and would recommend it to anyone.