How Americans and Canadians can help Cubans recover from Hurricane Sandy devastation via tax-deductible donations to charitable organizations you can trust

Help Cuba survive desaster resulting from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

Help Cuba in its hour of dire need following Hurricane Sandy's wrath. Cuba Education Tours donated $10,000. We challenge all Cuba tour operators to do the same.

Generous Cuba banner for TourismForPeace.ca website.

How Americans and Canadians can help Cubans recover from Hurricane Sandy devastation via a tax-deductible donation to charitable organizations you can trust

"My family and neighbors are suffering enormously. I am going crazy because I am not able to be with them right now to help out." Says Cuba Education Tours vice-president Leonardo Hechavarría, who grew up in Cauto Cristo in the eastern province of Granma. "The reason Americans go to Cuba is to meet the people and witness their culture and heritage. I want to play a small part in rebuilding my country and urge everyone else to do so."

Anayansi Himely, a Havana television production coordinator told us, "A lot of my friends in the eastern provinces not only lost their homes, but their shops, workplaces, crops and farm animals – their livelihoods. Their future is bleak. The government is doing everything possible to provide emergency aid, but its resources are limited because the U.S. embargo of the island blocks entry of construction supplies and confiscates funds to the island transacted in U.S. dollars."

"I work hard everyday to help Americans go see my country. Everyone I talk to is expressing concern about the horrible destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy. They want to help." Says Pedro Gomez Vazquez, a travel advisor with Cuba Education Tours.

"We hope the scores of new tour operators granted a special concession known as the people-to-people license by President Obama will give generously," says Marcel Hatch, president of Cuba Education Tours. "It's the right thing to do for Cuba travel agencies whose businesses are based upon the well being of island people – especially in their time of great need."

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Extent of Sandy's wrath in Eastern Cuba


	Photo Associated Press (AP). Click here or photo to enlarge. Antonio Garces, a resident of community of Aguacate on the outskirts of Santiago de Cuba attempts to recover meager belongings and salvage construction materials from his house destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. The U.S. government prohibits export of building materials to Cuba. The stated aim of the U.S. blockade is to cause social and economic hardships for regular Cubans to the extent that they will rebel against their elected government and seek for it to replaced by politicians adhering to U.S. business interests.

HURRICANE SANDY hit southeastern Cuba on the morning of October 25 with category 5 impacts. The result was catastrophic damage to housing, economic activity, and education and health facilities according to Cuba government and private sources. Roof collapses, toppling trees and wind-blown debris killed eleven people, including a 4-month-old boy.

More than 180,000 homes were damaged by Hurricane Sandy, 43,426 lost roofs and 15,400 were wiped out. Thousands remain without shelter; a historically unheard of condition in Cuba. Power, water, gas and communications continue to be irregular over large sections of eastern Cuba.

Islanders are urged to boil drinking water to prevent water borne disease, but this is difficult because of loss of infrastructure and domestic appliances and services. Local authorities are distributing chlorine to sterilize water and have prioritized electrical service for strategic use by hospitals, schools and bakeries.

President Castro said Cuba's second largest city, Santiago, looked like it had been bombed.

Cuba's turn to get help


	Photo Miguel Rubiera, Cuban government via Reuters. Click here or photo to enlarge. Rubble and debris clutter the streets of historic Santiago de Cuba, the island's second largest city. President Castro said Santiago looks like it had been bombed.

CUBA LACKS MONEY and resources because the U.S. economic blockade bars it from normal trade and commerce with the rest of the world. So Cuba measures wealth in terms of human capital: doctors, teachers, scientists, technicians and artists. When disaster strikes around the world, Cubans responds immediately with human assistance. Perhaps the most effective kind of humanitarian aid.

The day after 911, Cuba offered battalions of emergency workers to come to New York and help, all expenses paid by the Cuban people. When Katrina swamped New Orleans, 1,586 Cuban doctors immediately volunteered to go there and assist. The Cuban government was prepared to pay for all the costs. In both cases G.W. Bush denied their entry into the U.S.

Cubans felt bad they couldn't aid their U.S. sisters and brothers and help save lives and rebuild. Cubans have gone to scores of other countries facing disaster where their aid was needed, and they were embraced by locals suffering homelessness and health crises. Often it was the case that Cuba was the first nation to help.

Cuba Education Tours, North America’s premier cultural and educational tour operator has donated $10,000 to assist in rebuilding efforts in towns and cities in eastern Cuba. Cuba Education Tours appeals to its Cuba travel industry colleagues to match or exceed this donation, and urges individuals to help within their means. Cuba Education Tours believes companies whose businesses are based upon the well being of Cuba and its people should give generously in this time of dire need.

How Americans can help: Give to MEDICC for Cuba


Medical Education Cooperation with Cuba (MEDICC) is a nonprofit organization working to enhance cooperation among the U.S., Cuban and global health communities aimed at better health outcomes. MEDICC supports education and development of human resources in health committed to equitable access and quality care, and featuring the Cuban experience to inform global debate, practice, policies and cooperation in health. Click here to donate online now to MEDICC for Cuba Sandy relief. Or mail a check payable to: MEDICC P.O. Box 361449 Decatur, GA 30036 Check memo: Sandy Hurricane Fund Include your name, address and phone number so a tax receipt can be issued by Network for Good Donor Advised Fund (tax ID 68-0480736). This transaction will appear on your credit card statement as "Network for Good." Click here to view the website of MEDICC and learn all about their good work.

How Canadians can help: Give to CNC for Cuba


The Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC) is Canada's nationwide Cuba solidarity organization (of which Cuba Education Tours is a founding member). The CNC ensures 100% of your donation goes directly to the Cuban people, and is tax deductible. Mail cheques and make payable to: Mackenzie-Papineau Memorial Fund c/o Sharon Skup, Treasurer 56 Riverwood Terrace Bolton, Ontario L7E 1S4 Canada Check memo: CNC Sandy Hurricane Relief Fund Include your name, address and phone number so a tax receipt can be issued. Mackenzie-Papineau Memorial Fund is a registered charitable organization, No. 88876-9197R0001. Click here to visit the CNC's website. Click here to see Cuba Education Tours' donation to this trusted Canadian charity.

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