If you want to learn about the REAL Cuba, talk to the REAL people and go ‘beneath the surface’, then join our 28th Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba this July, and be a part of challenging the US economic blockade of Cuba.
July 11-28, 2017.
Cost of program- $1650
plus travel to Mexico City and back from US at own expense.
Caravan Program Update:
This year’s Friendshipment Caravan had the intention of traveling to Cuba’s eastern provinces of Guantanamo and Santiago. This choice was motivated by our desire to be in solidarity and accompany the people of this region affected by Hurricane Matthew this past fall. Even though there is a major rebuilding process, due to the material conditions on the ground, our hosts are not able to receive us. Despite this change in the Caravan’s program, our actions in solidarity with Cuba cannot cease!
As an alternative two week program we will visit Villa Clara Province and Havana.
In Villa Clara we will focus on Cuba’s rural development and how in the 21st century, the Cuban people are providing leading examples of sustainable agriculture, universal and community based health care and access to culture for all. This year also marks the 50th Anniversary of the Death of revolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara. An important component of this Caravan will be to visit the historic sites in the city of Santa Clara where he fought one of his most famous battles and the mausoleum where he and fellow fighters are laid to rest.
Caravanistas will take part in Cuba’s conversation on how the participation of the LGBTQ community and people of African descent are integral to the Cuban revolution. We will be part of the nationwide celebration of the July 26th attack on the Moncada Barracks, and we will be visiting the Latin American School of Medicine in Havana.
We go to Cuba as a conscious act of civil disobedience in the spirit of the US civil rights movement. We will be committing the civil offense of unlicensed travel to Cuba. In the years 2005 and 2006 all adult Caravanistas received letters threatening fines from the Office of Foreign Assets Control, the department of the US Treasury responsible for implementing the US economic blockade of Cuba, though in the end no further action was taken. Since then there has been nothing, but we cannot predict what stance the Trump administration will take.
Application forms are available by emailing: friendshipmentcaravan@ifconews.org or filling out the form here: https://ifconews.org/cuba-caravan/67-2/
Deadline to apply:- May 1st 2017 (Even though the deadline passed, feel free to e-mail anyways just in case there are spots open and we can get you in)
Schedule and more info: Caravan Brochure2017
Chicago Cuba Coalition 