Operation Cuba Va delivers school supplies to 100 Cuban schools

A coalition of grassroots groups from Chile, Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela, Belgium, Italy, the United States and Canada coordinated the "Operation Cuba Va" initiative to provide educational kits for 100 primary and secondary schools in Cuba. The kits, which include pens, pencils, crayons, rulers, clay, paints, chalk, paper and sports equipment, have been handed over to Cuba's Ministry of Education and will be distributed when the new school year begins.

The effort raised about $20,000, with more than half of the funds managed by Chilean groups. Organizers say the aid not only supplies material resources but also signals solidarity with the Cuban people amid the U.S. economic and energy embargo, which they say has severely limited the production of teaching materials in the country.