In September, we will provide back-to-school assistance to nearly 300 students at the educational institution for children with intellectual and learning disabilities located in the Havanna housing complex.

The start of the school year places a particularly heavy financial burden on families with many children, which is why, for the first time this year, we are providing back-to-school assistance to certain families. Our foundation has been supporting disadvantaged students at the Special Education and Development Institute (SOFI) for years, but this year, rather than timing our donation campaign for Children’s Day or the Christmas season, we’ve chosen September—a month that is also financially burdensome for large families.

In mid-September, our foundation presents nearly 300 SOFI students with school supplies needed for the start of the school year—notebooks, colored paper, drawing paper, tempera paints, paintbrushes, etc. Of course, we can’t miss the chance to surprise the children with some snacks, so we’ll also be bringing their favorite candy (halava), salty treats, and rosewater lemonade to the handover event.

The educational institution is a special education facility that also offers specialized vocational school programs; it provides early intervention, preschool care, education for students subject to compulsory education, elementary school education, and specialized vocational training. In our work to date, we have observed that the institution’s teachers are particularly child-centered, and this is reflected in the children, who are raised and educated in a loving, family-like atmosphere that supports their mental, emotional, and social development. However, the majority of these children are not only academically or intellectually challenged but also come from socially disadvantaged families, where as many as 5 or 6 children often share a single daily meal. Thanks to our long-standing relationship, the children have come to know us well; they talk about our volunteers throughout the year and look forward to seeing them again, as every moment spent together is joyful and memorable for the children as well as for our organization’s staff and volunteers. All of these factors together justify our ongoing support.