Cuba Connection

Yoelkis' dream of opening a preschool became a reality in January of 2022. This much needed Children’s Bible Ministry program is open to the entire community of Guanabacoa.  

Due to constraints applied by both the US and Cuban governments LPC had to develop a new means of sending financial support to Cuba for the preschool program. Over the last few years, we have been working with the Outreach Foundation, based in Franklin, TN. This past April of 2022 they sent a team to Cuba to visit the church and observe the progress of the CBM. Yoelkis and his staff had many obstacles to overcome in addition to the COVID restrictions effecting availability of building materials and subsequently much higher costs, hiring staff, school supplies, etc.  

Here are a few highlights from the Outreach Foundation report: 

• 5 teachers have been trained so that there would always be healthy teachers able to work. 

• A local, well-regarded pediatrician who had retired was brought on staff and maintains a clinic adjacent to the newly built preschool. The doctor receives a minimal salary, equal to what the kitchen staff are paid. This is a unique value to teachers and students among all preschools in Cuba. 

• The pandemic also resulted in a severe shortage of food. Food prices have increased significantly due to currency changes and supply chain issues. Even those people with money to buy food have difficulty purchasing it. Of concern was the health and nutrition of the enrolled children... many of whom come from families of little means. A Michigan church, FPC Petoskey, has been working with First Hand Aid to provide funding for an initial trial to feed a lunch to these children two days a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays). On the off-days, parents pack something for their child to eat. 

• There is no market in Cuba for school supplies (paper, markers, toys, games) so Yoelkis must depend entirely on outside help for donations. There is no money in the CBM for these items so this will be an ongoing challenge. 

• In keeping with the church's original plan for the Children's Bible Ministry to serve some of the poorest families of Guanabacoa, tuition is 25% of the tuition charged by other private preschools... making it more affordable, yet with substantial potential for increase without risking its cost-competitiveness.