The Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) recently launched a community initiative in the Hermanas Giralt neighborhood of Cienfuegos, featuring music, dance, and sports shooting. This event is part of the activation of the Community Youth Network targeting local residents, as reported by the official 5 de Septiembre newspaper on Friday.
Organized by the Union of Young Communists (UJC) in the Cienfuegos Military Region, the event included the creation of a sports shooting range by members of the Cuban Revolution Combatants Association. Here, children and young people tested their skills in a shooting game known as "tiro con perle."
As night fell, the cultural brigade Cultura Matancera, which is linked to the Central Army and the Cuba Viva project, performed alongside local artists. This performance marked the conclusion of their tour through the central region, which had begun in Ciego de Ávila.
Community Engagement through Culture and Recreation
Adis Valdés Martín, a UJC organizer in the Cienfuegos Military Region, described the initiative as a response to the country's current challenges. "The Community Youth Networks aim to organize activities within the community that foster healthy recreation for our youth in light of the nation's circumstances," she stated.
The program also featured visits to veteran combatants within the community, as part of the youth network's efforts to build connections and understanding among generations.
Involving Youth in Local Challenges
Lázaro Alejandro Romero Álvarez, the first secretary of the UJC in Cienfuegos, emphasized the importance of engaging young people in local issues. "Our goal is to make young people feel they are part of the solution to the challenges in their communities," he explained.
Officially launched in April under the slogan "Innovate, Create, Lead," the Community Youth Network was inspired by a call from leader Miguel Díaz-Canel, who termed it a "mega-project" of the UJC. The network includes seven projects with territorial brigades at the popular council, municipal, and provincial levels, focusing on defense, production, ideological communication, culture, and solidarity.
Struggling to Reconnect with Cuba's Youth
According to Meyvis Estévez Echevarría, the UJC's first secretary, the network is operational in 1,263 out of the country's 1,410 popular councils as of early August, with Cienfuegos and Granma leading in implementation success. This initiative is part of a broader strategy by the regime to regain political presence among the youth amid a significant generational disconnect.
The UJC has seen a steep decline in membership, losing over 194,000 members between 2007 and 2024, dropping from 609,000 to 415,000 affiliates. This 32% decrease is largely due to massive emigration and ideological disillusionment.
These efforts come as the UJC faces an overwhelming disconnect with Cuban youth. Independent surveys conducted this year reveal that 97.61% of Cubans aged 18 to 30 disapprove of the government's performance, and 93% would leave the country if given the opportunity.
In early August, Díaz-Canel acknowledged the insufficiency in youth engagement and participation within the network, which remains primarily centered around high school students.
The Community Youth Network is also linked with the "Mi Barrio por la Patria" movement, approved by the Council of State in March. Independent analysts describe this movement as a social control mechanism intended to replace the declining Committees for the Defense of the Revolution.
Understanding the Community Youth Network Initiative
What is the goal of the Community Youth Network in Cienfuegos?
The Community Youth Network aims to engage young people in community activities, providing healthy recreation and involving them in addressing local challenges.
How does the initiative relate to the declining membership of the UJC?
The initiative is part of a broader strategy to regain political presence among the youth, amid significant membership decline due to emigration and disillusionment.