Benefit Cuba
Benefit Cuba
In Cuba, the people have many expressive sayings... one is: "El arte no se cobra."
Art does not cost. Once you have the basics of life, art flows naturally out of the human spirit.
This rich and genuine culture we love from Cuba, is the kind of thing that's becoming in short supply in many countries... where marketed entertainment has substituted itself for culture.
Looking the other way, cubans are in need of many things that are much more easily found elsewhere.
If you appreciate Cuban culture, and what MuchoSwing volunteers do.... here are some ideas on making the gift go full circle.
Dubois Charitable Foundation, Princeton, Ontario, Canada. The foundation's original purpose was, and still is, collecting servicable medical equipment and related supplies. Scores of dialysis machines, X-ray machines equipped for mammograms, adjustable hospital beds, and, of course, medicine has been delivered to where it is needed. Shipping is fully controlled, to any location that may need it, throughout Cuba, urban, rural, central or remote. Email to Dubois Charitable Foundation.
John's Music, Seattle, Washington, USA. Existing music charities donate primarily to a select number of identified schools. Those that weren't fortunate to attract attention back when these charities were formed are more or less left wanting. So, we are in touch with those who know who needs what the most and we have a distribution point person there. Sample equipment delivered in December 2005: 6 sets upright bass strings, 5 boxes timbale sticks, 10 timbale heads, 12 Clarinet repair kits, 12 saxophone repair kits. These folks are some of the volunteers behind MuchoSwing, also instituting a program of supplying musical instruments and maintenance to Cuban schools. See Footnote 1 instructions below.
Cuba Medical Transport based in Vermont, USA, is a non-profit and non political humanitarian organization that sends medicine and medical equipment to Cuba. Their site shows a lot of information about exactly what they have done and are now doing.
Recycle your Bicycle is run by trusty Toronto weatherman Harold Hosein, mostly (but not only) for shipment of bicycles to Cuba. Who knows where those parts will wind up, but they'll be a lot more useful in Cuba than rusting in a landfill.
Not Just Tourists gives you a suitcase of medical supplies, and sends you to a clinic or hospital in Cuba near where you are going. What happens when you get there should make your day... if not your whole visit.
These folks make sure that the people of Cuba get the full benefit of what you give, where it is needed most.
Footnote 1: Here's How to donate to the Instrument Repair Fund for Cuban Musicians (see John's Music entry above):
1. Go to http://www.paypal.com
2. Log in or register if you are new (new registration takes a day to confirm your email address - so check your email and respond - it also takes a day or so to verify your bank account)
3. Click the *Send Money* tab.
4. Click the *Pay Anyone* subtab.
5. Enter yuma@muchoswing.com, the amount, the currency, the payment type, and an optional subject and note.
6. Click *Continue*.
7. Review the information on the confirmation page and click *Send Money* to complete your transaction.
In case of problems, please email to "yuma@muchoswing.com", but it appears to work very well.