Cuban Literacy Program has Benefitted over 6.5 Million People in 28 Countries

Some 6.5 million citizens in 28 nations are no longer illiterate persons thanks to the Cuban Literacy Program  known as “Yes, I Can.” The figure surpasses all statistics reported by other similar programs implemented thus far around the world.

The statement was made by the head of the Youth, Adult and Literacy Department of the Latin American and Caribbean Pedagogical Institute Jose Ricardo del Real in conversation with PL news agency.

At present more than one million illiterate people are currently taking the course, said Del Real as he referred to the Cuban program, which was first implemented in Venezuela in 2002.

As to the cost of the course the expert said it depends on the conception of how to apply the program for a course that lasts between 7 and 14 weeks, though an average cost could be estimated at less than 5 dollars.

Depending on the application of the program and the teaching means, including a TV set and a DVD player, teaching a person how to read and write would not cost more than five dollars, he said.

Making just a simple calculation, it would take over 7.5 billion dollars to wipe out illiteracy, if we look at statistics saying that some 759 million adults cannot read or write in the world, the expert said.

Our goal was to create a methodology that guaranteed a short-term and high-quality teaching program that could be implemented with minimum human and financial resources and that proved to be economical.

This program allows us to reach the most remote areas with facilitators, who mostly volunteer for the task, thus helping lower costs and reduce the time of the course, said Del Real.

The initiative has proven that by using fewer resources in a short period of time, we can find a solution to efficiently fight illiteracy, said the expert as he also referred to a pilot program under implementation in Australia, and in Ecuador.

New York Times highlights Cuba’s efforts in combating cholera in Haiti

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"Half of the NGOs are already gone, and the Cubans are still there."

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In an article published November 8, The New York Times recognizes that, "as the epidemic continues, the Cuban medical mission that played an important role in detecting its presence in Haiti, winning accolades from donors and diplomats for staying on the front lines and undertaking a broader effort to remake this country's shattered health care system."
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"Paul Farmer, the United Nations deputy special envoy to Haiti and a founder of Partners in Health, said the Cubans sounded an important early alarm about the outbreak, helping to mobilize health officials and lessen the death toll," the newspaper writes.

Cuban medical personnel were in Haiti when the earthquake happened and are still there, while half of the NGO’s have already left. (Photo: Juan Diego Nusa Peñalver) 

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Even more, while the death rate peaked last December and the world's attention has largely moved on, Farmer noted, "Half of the NGOs are already gone, and the Cubans are still there."
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To date this year in Haiti, 6,600 people have died of cholera and more than 476,000 contracted the disease – close to 5% of the country’s 10 million inhabitants – considered by UN officials as the highest cholera rate in the world.
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Cuban medical personnel have been working in Haiti since 1998, when 100 doctors arrived there in the wake of Hurricane Mitch. They are part of the internationalist medical missions that Cuba has maintained for 50 years. 

Angolan Literacy Campaign advances with Cuba’s Help

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 Cuba’s support for the teaching of basic literacy to thousands of Angolans was highlighted during a meeting in Luanda between leaders of the South African country and a Cuban delegation.

The Secretary for Political and Social Affairs of the Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) in that capital expressed his appreciation for the gesture of the Caribbean island of sending advisers to carry out this task, the Prensa Latina news agency reported.

Joana Quintas, first secretary of the MPLA in Ingombota, referred to the educational experiences they have acquired, and informed that, in two years, 108,000 adults of this municipality will learn how to read and write by way of the Cuban method Yes I Can.

Participating in the meeting were ambassador Pedro Ross; the third secretary of the diplomatic mission, Rosa Fonseca; and deputy Luis Ramirez, representing Cuba.

Ross stated that the fruit of the literacy campaign are the best tribute to the internationalists who died in defense of Angola’s independence.

On this date of 1989, the mortal remains of Cubans who fell in combat in Angola, Ethiopia and other African nations were buried in pantheons built in their municipalities of origin, in ceremonies held simultaneously throughout the island.

The national mourning ceremony took place at the mausoleum of El Cacahual, where Commander in Chief Fidel Castro and Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos addressed participants.

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