Play for Cuba appeal send-off

MFFC news | credit: by Natasha Hickman on: Wednesday, 10 April 2019

In April, a huge lorry carrying a 40ft shipping container, filled to the brim with donated instruments and dressed with a Cuban flag, was parked outside Liverpool’s ACC where the NEU conference was being held.

Delegates danced on the piazza to live Cuban music from Omar Puente and Raíces Cubanas, as well as students from the Queen Elizabeth School in Kirkby Lonsdale. Omar invited the young musicians to play along with the Cuban band for a couple of moving songs during the show. The launch heard speeches from Her Excellency Teresita Vicente, Cuban Ambassador, Kevin Courtney, Joint NEU General Secretary, Kiri Tunks, Joint NEU President, Gawain Little, Chair of the NEU International Committee, and Sue Piper, NEU Tameside and Play for Cuba Greater Manchester coordinator.

The event was compered by Rob Miller, CSC Director and Play for Cuba coordinator. The Cuban Ambassador said, “today we are witnessing an inspiring act of solidarity” and spoke of how the donations reflected the British people’s support for Cuba’s culture, identity, independence and sovereignty.

The appeal“has special significance because it was held at a time when the United States government intensified its unilateral blockade, with the objective of overcoming the Cuban Revolution and breaking the people’s determination,” the Ambassador said. Kevin Courtney said: “Cuba is a poor country, but it has the best education system in Latin America, the best healthcare in Latin America.”

Sue Piper, Manchester regional coordinator, described how she was inspired by the huge support and solidarity, and how, after visiting schools in Cuba on a previous teachers’ delegation, she had seen firsthand the shortages of musical instruments and essential resources in Cuban schools due to the US blockade. Gawain Little said: “We say the Cuban people should be able to determine their own future, free from intervention from the US, or anyone else… We’re beating the blockade with this act of solidarity with Cuba, sending over 4,000 instruments.”

A huge thank you to everyone We would like to pass on our huge thanks to everyone involved in the Play for Cuba appeal. It really was a gargantuan effort that was only possible thanks to the energy, hard work and perseverance of thousands of people across the country. It has been a tricky journey for sure, but it has resulted in a great act of solidarity and friendship that will resonate across the island of Cuba in the creation of more beautiful music and dance for many years to come.


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