From the city to the mountains

On May 3, 1960, the first volunteer teachers arrived in the Sierra Maestra, responding to the call of the Commander in Chief, Fidel Castro.

Image via the PCC

By Lissel Pino Ceballos, translated from the Spanish

Hundreds of young people arrived In the Sierra Maestra Mountains, where the forest seemed impenetrable, on May 3, 1960, with a mission that would change the destiny of Cuba: literacy. With the spirit of the Revolution beating in their hearts, they left the comfort of their homes to become volunteer teachers, bearers of light.

They brought not only books and makeshift blackboards, but also hope; every letter learned was a powerful weapon against the illiteracy that, for years, had condemned many to silence. These young people demonstrated that education could be the greatest achievement for a people determined to forge their own path.

Thanks to their dedication and sacrifice, education ceased to be a privilege and became a universal right in our country. They not only taught reading and writing, but also raised awareness, sparked dreams, and opened doors to a future where knowledge would be the most valuable tool for building a more just society.

Years later, their footprints remain in the classrooms, in the open books, in the words that flow freely, because teaching was not just their task: it was their legacy. Today, in every corner where the voice of an educated people is raised, the echo of that feat resonates, which, even more than history, is identity.

This work was translated and shared via a License CC-BY-NC