As the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR) celebrate their 65th anniversary. Learning about the experiences of young people who assume responsibilities within the organization is essential to understanding its renewal. Claudia Fernández Buch, a member of the National Board of the CDRs for Holguin, is an example of this change.
At the age of 14, Claudia began participating in her neighborhood’s activities. “My experience in the CDRs has been wonderful. I started by helping with activities carried out in my community,” she recalls.
Her dedication led her to assume responsibilities in the area of children, adolescents, and young adulthood, and later to become the coordinator of Zone 338 in the Hermanos Aguilera community.
For her, the secret lies in passion and organization. Combining medicine with her responsibilities in the UJC and the CDRs is a challenge she takes on with complete conviction.
Each of these facets feeds off each other. Medicine gives me a unique perspective on community work and caring for people. While the UJC and the CDRs are settings where I can realize my commitment to service. It is in this balance that I build my life Project. Always with the Revolution as my guide.
A key figure along her path was a zone coordinator known as Velazquito, “a very active, well-liked person. Who always included children in activities. He instilled that love for the organization in many others,” says Claudia, who highlights how that initial inspiration shaped her vision of community work.
Moreover her outstanding performance led her to be a direct delegate to the 10th Congress of the CDRs, an experience she describes as enriching. There, she served on the Commission for the Care of Children, Adolescents, and Youth. Where crucial topics for the future of the organization were discussed. “It was very intense; although all organizations work with young people. We CDRs have a specific duty to them,” she explains.
Currently, she is part of a national advisory team made up of young people from all provinces, where Holguin is responsible for the historical sphere. From this space, they work on communication, cohesion, and revitalization strategies for the CDRs, with the support of journalists and specialists.
Regarding the challenge of attracting more young people, Claudia is clear: “It’s difficult, but not impossible.” She points out that it is essential to “show them what the organization is, integrate them, support them, and not discourage them.” She proposes working from schools, reviving the history of the CDRs, and creating children’s structures that serve as incubators. “Even if there isn’t a CDR president in a neighborhood, we must seek figures who motivate and guide. The future depends on how we involve the youngest members of the community,” she concludes.
With conviction and optimism, Claudia Fernández Buch represents the new lifeblood that, from Holguin, contributes to strengthening and modernizing Cuba’s oldest mass organization. Without losing sight of its essence.
Translated by Aliani Rojas Fernandez
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