“The 47th Martí Youth Seminar: Keeping the Spirit of Cuba Alive Through José Martí’s Teachings”

The work of José Martí is intrinsically linked to the spirit of Cuba. But not as a distant and unattainable entity, but as a guide and horizon that marks the daily work. And to demonstrate that despite the constant calls to rewrite and forget history, or perhaps precisely against these campaigns, the work of institutions such as the Martí Youth Movement (MJM) is important.

The 47th Martí Youth Seminar, organized by the MJM in Havana, the Center for Martí Studies, the Union of Young Communists and other organizations dedicated to the study of the Apostle’s work, is one of the main activities in this effort to maintain the thought of the National Hero in a central place. Developed in 5 commissions, and to which 53 papers were presented, this seminar was closed at the National Capitol this Saturday. There, the prizes were awarded to the most outstanding presentations. Among the winners was the pioneer Aliany González Palenzuela, who is in 5th grade at the Conrado Benítez school in the municipality of San Miguel del Padrón. Martí’s teachings in her life and how they help her to be a better person was one of the motivations she found to carry out her work.

Putting Martí at the center of thought and work, taking his essence as a revolutionary and humanist, were some of the objectives of this seminar that has been replicated in the different provinces of the country and should pay tribute to the national event to be held during the month of June. This activity had the surprising presence of Esteban Lazo, president of the National Assembly of People’s Power. Between questions and history lessons, the also President of the Council of State addressed the young people. “The future of the Homeland is secure with the scholars of Martí’s work”, he said when talking to the participants. There the MJM gave him a special recognition for his work in defense of history and the work of Marti. The same award minutes before had been given to Luis Toledo Sandé, Honorary President of the Provincial Seminary.

The President of @Cuba Assembly🇨🇺, Esteban Lazo, shared this Saturday with young people attending the Provincial Seminar of the Martí Youth Movement in Havana, in its 47th edition

He animatedly shared about his experience and anecdotes from our history#OneBetterYouth pic.twitter.com/PTG6WysU27

— National Assembly Cuba (@AsambleaCuba) May 6, 2023

Raúl Palmero, first secretary of the Provincial Committee of the Union of Young Communists in Havana, expressed the central words of the act, where he highlighted the value of Martí in the transformations of society. Its validity, its usefulness for the education of the new generations and the relationship of Marti’s thought in Cuban revolutionary history were some of the elements highlighted by the political leader.

(Taken from Tribuna de La Habana)