Mieke and Gerard, an embrace of solidarity in Holguín

Photos: By the author.

For over a decade, Mieke and Gerard Rutjens have been building a bridge of solidarity between the Netherlands and Cuba, transforming lives, classrooms, and destinies. The Dutch couple, founders of the Stichting Cuba Adelante project, dedicate their efforts and resources to supporting educational and healthcare institutions in the municipalities of Moa, Banes, and Holguín.

In 2011, they traveled to Holguín province, drawn by its tourist attractions. But a single glance, one that touches the soul and awakens consciences, was enough to inspire them to embrace a project and want to be of service in the best way possible.

“We saw more of Cuba, the houses, how people live, we met wonderful people, and we promised to return. And then we thought, what can we do here?” Mieke recounts, recalling the moment when Cuban reality touched her heart. That question became a commitment that began to materialize in containers loaded with furniture, teaching materials, medical equipment and, above all, hope.

 The birth of “Stichting Cuba Adelante”

“The idea for the project arose in the living room of the No. 2 Children’s Home in Holguín (the first to benefit from donations by the Dutch couple),” recalls M.Sc. Juan Manuel Pérez Riverón, Advisor for International Relations and Foreign Cooperation Projects at the General Directorate of Education.

“The aid was later extended to other homes in the provincial capital, the Cuba-Holland Friendship School in the municipality of Moa, and the Ophthalmology Department of the Clinical-Surgical Hospital in the municipality of Banes, which received treatment tables for physiotherapy, in addition to ultrasound and X-ray equipment,” explains Juan Manuel, who also serves as interpreter for Mieke and Gerard.

“Initially, the aid began arriving in small quantities of resources that people could bring as part of their luggage, so it was very limited. Years later, they made contact with representatives from the Dutch company Womy Equipment Rental, a land transport company, and the Dutch shipping company Nirint, explained the project coordinator in Holguín.

“Now we have a team to transport the containers by sea and then distribute them here free of charge, and Juan Manuel, Rodolfo, and his wife support the foundation's work,” Mieke adds.

The impact on special education schools

Located in the Centro Ciudad Norte People's Council of the municipality of Holguín, the Jorge Ricardo Masetti Blanco Educational Institution, one of the schools most benefited by the project, proudly displays the improvements made to its facilities, which date back more than four decades. The changes are evident in the school's reception area, sports facilities, playgrounds, vocational training areas, classrooms, and offices.

“This school now has a new living room set in the reception area, computer equipment and office furniture, new tables and chairs in the classrooms, and cabinets for storing auxiliary and basic materials. We now have sufficient resources to offer a much more comprehensive education to our children. Undoubtedly, this project is very beneficial for Cuba, and we greatly respect the work of our friends Mieke and Gerard for their admirable humanism and solidarity,” commented Norge Alfredo Escobar Claro, the school's director.

He noted that the collaboration not only transforms the infrastructure, but also raises the quality of the educational process and spoke of the impact it has on the educational project "The Light of the Future", developed at the "Massetti", in order to enhance the job training of the students for their subsequent insertion into a job, once they graduate from the school.

Media that opens paths

During their recent visit to the Jorge Ricardo Massetti Special School, Mieke and Gerard appreciated the importance of their collaboration for those who daily drive educational development on an island besieged and lacking resources.

Mirsa Cruz Montero, Physical Education teacher, expressed that these resources have contributed to expand pedagogical possibilities, as it provides a variety of approaches to address the individual needs of each student.

“For many years, our schools have suffered the impact of the blockade. Having these resources available to us free of charge is gratifying and a motivation for students to participate in varied and differentiated activities based on their individual needs. This helps improve their psychomotor development, motor skills, self-reliance, and independence, and helps them become productive members of society and integrate fully as citizens,” she noted.

“We are grateful to see the usefulness of the donations we send, especially for the children. We see that the schools are in better condition and the children enjoy attending more. We are very happy to be able to help the centers that serve special educational needs, one of the most vulnerable sectors of society. We are thinking about how to extend our support to other institutions with similar characteristics,” Gerard said.

 Heartfelt gratitude

The recognition of Mieke, Gerard, and the Stichting Cuba Adelante project extends among teachers, students, and families, while the joy of the children receiving materials that encourage their learning is the most precious reward for the Dutch couple, knowing that their help transforms not only classrooms, but lives.

Looking to the future, the project is already planning new initiatives to collaborate with institutions associated with the Quisicuaba project and expand the foundation's reach to other vulnerable areas of Cuban society.

Meanwhile, in Holguín, Moa, and Banes, the solidarity that crosses the Atlantic continues to illuminate the path for those who need it most. It is a work where the material and the spiritual come together to build a more inclusive and hopeful future thanks to the supportive embrace of Mieke and Gerard.