Three powerful reasons to sign up for working with kids in Cuba

Volunteer Work in Cuba

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Andreea Sterea--------When it comes to children and children’s rights, Cuba is largely a paradox, in many respects. One the one hand, it is the country that gave the world José Martí, a national hero, a writer, and a personality who was highly concerned with what children understand from the world around them. One of his declared life-long dreams was to make sure that every child lives in freedom and happiness – however, this is far from being true in Cuba.

Martí’s home country is known the world over for its rather deplorable status, when it comes to respecting children’s rights. The one-party state has given rise to the proliferation of underage prostitution, child labor, and many violations of international conventions that protect the rights of children. According to the most current facts and figures, Cuba has a 6.56 (out of 10) index for the realization of children’s rights. This is a country in which 16.6 per cent of the population of 11 million is aged 0 to 14 years-old. Many international organizations try to promote improved conditions for Cuban kids – and if you’re thinking of doing some volunteer work in Cuba, there is ample reason for you to do so. We’re listing the five top reasons below, as based on cold, hard data, and reports.

Kids in Cuba are poor

Of course, they are no poorer than children in underprivileged nations and, as far as the ‘glass half-full’ side of the story goes, they do receive access to basic healthcare, schooling, drinkable water, and other essential amenities. However, 10 per cent of all Cubans are currently living underneath the poverty line, a situation which must be improved, in order to further the well-being of children.

Cuban kids die young

Perhaps one of the most alarming statistics when it comes to the lives of Cuban children is the one related to infant mortality. Currently accepted definitions of this phenomenon refer to kids who die before turning five – in Cuba, this rate stands at 6 per cent, which makes it a huge problem, far more widespread than in other corners of the world. There is no other way to address this issue than by making sure that local kids are getting access to health care they don’t have to pay for, irrespective of whether they live in the big city or in the countryside. This is one area in which volunteer work is highly appreciated, as not-for-profit organizations are trying to improve healthcare conditions, in conjunction with the Cuban Public Health Minister’s prevention program.

Kids in Cuba are forced to work

There is a wide gap in Cuba between currently enforced laws and cultural practices. On the one hand, local laws prevent kids younger than 15 from performing any remunerated work. On the other, however, as Tulane University reports indicate, many kids in Cuba are forced to work by their families – by and large, Cuban children are regarded as important contributors to the nation’s economy. Local laws have done their share in making sure that the work kids do does not prevent them from growing up in a safe environment and from having a proper childhood, in the following ways:

-          15 and 16 year-olds can be trained for specific jobs, which they can take on, in the event of a workers’ shortage.

-          School is mandatory in Cuba until the 9^th grade.

-          Students aged 11 and upward have to work 30 to 45 days on local farms in the summertime, but their work schedule cannot exceed 8 hours per day.

This having been said, kids as young as 8 work dangerous, complex jobs in Cuba. International support and volunteer work is clearly needed to address this situation – and you, too, can help by volunteering.