Cuba
In Cuba, HI is working to make society more inclusive of people with disabilities, with a focus on economic inclusion and disaster risk reduction, as the country is prone to hurricanes and earthquakes.
A show organized as part of the community-based rehabilitation project | © M. Burgaya / HI
Our actions
In order to improve the economic inclusion of people with disabilities, HI helps people with disabilities, especially women and young people, to find suitable employment. To this end, the programme supports personal initiatives though competency building and the distribution of kits containing the tools needed to develop an economic activity. HI is also strengthening existing vocational training pathways, in collaboration with public services and civil society organisations. Our teams train and raise awareness of disability issues among the various economic actors, support the development of new adapted activities and work to improve the working conditions and environment of people with disabilities.
Cuba is prone to natural disasters, especially during the hurricane season, which runs from May to November each year. To help populations prepare, HI works with local authorities and civil society actors on disaster risk reduction and developing resilience strategies. The program supports local partners to develop their knowledge of risks and their preparedness and prevention capacities, ensuring that people with disabilities are taken into account in the responses provided.
HI’s program is also implementing a project to support the population following Hurricane Ian, which hit the province hard in 2022. In three municipalities, it is supporting community initiatives that will enable residents to regain and sustain their livelihoods. The program is also supporting the development of community and family gardens to strengthen food autonomy. In addition, it is helping three schools to prepare for disaster risks and providing training and awareness for the teaching staff.
Areas of intervention
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In September 2022, Hurricane Ian hit Cuba with winds of greater than 125 mph. A year later, Humanity & Inclusion is still actively responding to the emergency and helping communities become more resilient to future disasters.
Dania is proud to contribute to her community’s development
In Cuba, Humanity & Inclusion is helping residents prepare for potential natural disasters and strengthen their autonomy and resilience. Dania has received support for her farm.
a life
Background
Cuba is experiencing its worst economic crisis since the 1990s, and populations already experiencing extreme hardships are the hardest hit.
The Republic of Cuba, the largest country in the Caribbean, developed as a socialist country in the wake of the revolution in 1959. After the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, the country, whose economy had been strongly dependent on the USSR, entered a long period of economic difficulty that gradually resulted in a diversification of the national economy.
However, while many countries have recently revised their stance towards Cuba and promoted economic, cultural and political exchanges, the embargo imposed on the country by the United States continues to have a damaging effect not only on the island's ability to grow, but also on the lives of all Cubans. The Cuban economy has been hit hard by the tightening of the US embargo and the sanctions in place since 2018, as well as by the difficulties of its main ally in the region, Venezuela. Despite a limited human toll, the COVID-19 crisis has only worsened an already precarious situation by depriving the country of one of its main resources: tourism. As a result, Cuban GDP fell by 11% in 2020, before recovering to 0.4% in 2021 and 1.8% in 2022.
In recent years, the country has seen galloping inflation, increased difficulties for the population in obtaining essential items and, as a result, timid protests by civil society. Indeed, discontent among the population is growing. The country's fuel supply has also been considerably weakened, leading to periodic energy and transport crises. This situation has prompted many Cubans to emigrate to the United States or European countries.
Number of HI staff: 1
Program opened in: 1998
