In fact, President Salvador Sanchez Ceren acknowledged days ago, declaring San Salvador as the third Central American capital completely literate, that the support of Cuba has been key in this educational crusade.

‘Our gratitude also to the people and government of Cuba, to the Cuban educational brigade for its contribution to the National Literacy Program,’ said the head of state before a crowd gathered in the capital Plaza Barrios.

Sanchez Ceren highlighted the application here of the Cuban program ‘Yo, Sí Puedo’ (Yes I Can), whose effectiveness in various countries has been recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The declaration of Santa Clara as the 100th illiteracy free city in El Salvador is scheduled for next week, where more than 300,000 people have been literate from 2009 until now.

‘When we started the National Literacy Program we knew that we could fulfill this unpostponable task, because we always trust in the strength of the people and youth, and we had the support and experience of the Republic of Cuba,’ the president added.

The Minister of Education, Carlos Canjura, presided on Wednesday the declaration of the municipality of El Carmen, whose inhabitants now enjoy a human right that transcends the ability to read, write and perform basic calculations.

According to official figures, some 11,000 volunteers are educating in rural and urban areas almost 24,000 Salvadorans older than 15 years of age, through classrooms operating in 160 of the 262 municipalities of El Salvador.

(Prensa Latina)

The issue was discussed in a recent meeting between Silvia Elena Regalado, Salvadoran Culture Minister, and Cuban Ambassador to the country, Iliana Fonseca, during which the growth of children’s theater groups throughout the Central American nation was highlighted.

“We thank Cuba for its support, especially regarding this issue. We have created 16 groups across different communities and hope to end the year with 10 more, bringing them all together in a grand national festival,” stated Regalado to PL.

Meanwhile, last week Cuban advisors began to impart methodology classes to a group of cultural promoters in the country, responsible for creating new children’s theater companies in the west of the country, using group dynamic and game-based team work techniques, as well as dance-therapy sessions.

According to Marta Palacios, a specialist associated with Cuba’s La Colmenita, founded and directed by Carlos ‘Tin’ Cremata, the aim of every group is to instill values in children through games and theatre, with the entire creative process led by a single individual.

The idea to bring the Cuban experience to El Salvador came from the country’s President Sánchez Cerén and his spouse Margarita Villalta, both of whom are committed to promoting children’s development through the arts and culture.

(Prensa Latina)