HAVANA – Plaza de la Revolucion, Boyeros, Playa: the names of the municipalities where we work here hark back to places or events that have marked Cuban history. Fidel Castro's recent passing is the latest event in a period of great change in a country where the contrast between old, new and decadent is easily perceived as you walk through the streets and speak to local people.
Inter Campus is one of the constants here, although it too has evolved over time. We've worked with the Cuban FA since 2004, collaborating not only on sports initiatives but also on far-reaching projects involving local bodies and institutions.
After several busy days in the classroom and on the pitch, our visit concluded with a friendly tournament for children at the Estadio Pedro Marrero. The scoreboard behind the goals still shows the result from the last competitive match played here: Cuba 0-2 USA. While it may say little for the merits of the local game, it's representative of the new era that is unfolding.
We play to a crowd of parents as part of the celebrations kick-starting the 19th edition of Italian Culture Week in Cuba. Backed by the Italian Embassy and the Cuban Ministry of Culture, the initiative helps bring together art and sport, education and play.
At the end of the tournament Italian artist Michelangelo Pistoletto came onto the pitch to greet the kids and get them involved in an animated show. He was joined by representatives from Cittadellarte – Fondazione Pistoletto, Cuba's Rebirth/Third Paradise Embassy and participants from the Rebirth Workshop in Cuba.
Together we all took part in a giant piece of moving art to form the symbol of Third Paradise, a movement begun by Pistoletto with the aim of promoting sustainable development that balances nature and artifice. The same symbol has become famous around the world thanks to dozens of spectacular performances, including off the Havana coast, at the United Nations in Geneva and at the Louvre.
Now we too are part of the movement for change!
Visita il sito intercampus.inter.it
