By Alejandra Garcia on December 22, 2022, from Havana
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel at the FEU conference. photo: Abel Padron Padilla
This Tuesday, the capital hosted one of the most important youth events of the year, the closing of the 10th Congress of the Federation of University Students (FEU), the organization founded by leftist leader Julio Antonio Mella 100 years ago this December. The event, which was historic for many reasons, provided the occasion for young Cuban university students to think about the Cuba they want and to look forward with hope to 2023 which is coming up in a little more than a week.
At the Havana Convention Palace, the young people debated on pressing issues that cannot be postponed on what are their main aspirations, how can they contribute to the country’s development and connect their individual interests and life purposes with the collective construction of the country they envision.
“It is a historic day, not only because we are in a centennial Congress. It is historic for your contribution, for the quality, the maturity, the objectivity of the debate that you have carried out,” said Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who was present at the closing of the event and listened to part of the debate that took place on the last session of the three-days-long Congress.
“I think about this organization with a lot of nostalgia. When circumstances become difficult for me, I always look back to that youthful period in my beloved University of Villa Clara when we criticized everything and, at the same time, came up with the most incredible solutions for everything,” he added.
And the Congress showed that no matter how much time passes and circumstances change, youth will always be a key component to propose change, and defend what has been achieved. Díaz-Canel acknowledged it. “It is you, the young university students, who must illuminate the path of this new reality where we coexist. You, the young revolutionaries of the Federation, are the ones in charge of modernizing the Revolution in the streets and in the social networks.”
The Congress also showed that the young people of Cuba are very up-to-date and not only do they know what is going on in the world they are thirsty for information. It also illustrated that Cuba youth with dreams who want to be part of its economic development and who aspire, like any other young people from any latitude, to ensure material living conditions and improve their incomes. We have a youth who dream of traveling, but also of transforming their communities, embellishing their neighborhoods, and building their future in Cuba.
“Young people are indeed taking part in the country’s construction, according to their interests. There is still much to be done, such as making recreational options more accessible to young people, achieving a social project that makes it easier for its people to live well and achieve their goals. And all this is possible,” Federations president Karla Santana said.
The FEU is Cuba’s oldest youth organization and it hasn’t become obsolete in its first 100 years old because it remains connected to the country in the time it finds itself. Today, it has stronger ways to reach the people than in the early years, when it was founded by Mella and radicalized by leaders such as José Antonio Echeverría.
“Today, the communication you do must impact the rest of society. There is only one way to deal with the enemy aggressiveness in social networks: put firmness, revolutionary beauty and love into everything you do. Who better than you, who have the talent, the tools, and the youth to do it? Defend the Revolution, which is, first and foremost, a great work of love made by the youth,” the president urged.
The mission is gigantic and cannot be postponed. It is up to the youth to be the driving force of the country, to revolutionize within the Revolution, and to guarantee historical continuity. The moment is today.
Source: Resumen Latinoamericano – US