What school supplies to give in Varadero?
All school supplies will be useful to Varadero schoolchildren: pencils, pens, erasers, notebooks, colored pencils, backpacks...
Where to donate?
There is a school near 24th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenue.
Another one is located on Calle 29, a street in the opposite direction from the sea.
This is a school in Santa Marta, the small town just before the bridge to Varadero. These children are less likely to receive donations from tourists; feel free to take a detour if you can!
How to give?
It is of course recommended to ask permission from the school management before going to a class. Some people wait until the end of classes (2:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.) to hand out supplies to the children, who are then often accompanied by a parent who comes to pick them up.
Testimony of Julie Lauzon (January 22, 2019):
“I went to the Varadero elementary school to give away some Spanish books that I had. They showed me around the little school. The school principal was super nice! Afterwards, since it was dinner time, I slipped onto Calle 25. I turned the corner onto the 1st av and waited since I didn't have enough for all the kids!! I gave away what I had left to give away: coloring books with wooden colored pencils as well as Lipsil, also a metal bracelet thing that turns on the children's arm that I found at the Dollorama (they went crazy over that!!), hair stuff, vitamins...
I got $1000 smiles and a few hugs. The boys were giving me a thumbs up like little men with their best smiles and thank yous from the kids and parents!!
I didn't take any pictures I feel bad about giving and taking pictures but that's me. If you ever feel like giving to the kids directly at school it's located between 24 and 25 on 2nd Ave. I loved it and especially the kids were super happy to see the colored pencils in the pencil case but loved the mechanical pencils and ink pencils lol who knows hahahaha »
For those who decide to bring clothes, school supplies for children or other items, an alternative is to hand them over to the priest of a church rather than leaving them with hotel employees.
Regardless of our religious beliefs or non-beliefs, Cubans remain very attached to their churches, despite all the prohibitions that have been put in place at a certain point in their history.
According to my research, several people have testified on different sites that the priests have always welcomed them well and assured them that the donations will be distributed to those who need them most. A couple even testified (spring 2018) that the priest of Santa Elvira took them to the streets a little behind to show them how some families were living in very precarious situations, even after several months following the damage caused by Hurricane Irma.
Is it a 100% guarantee? Certainly not! But it is an alternative that can be interesting.
Our members suggest that we come after 10:30 a.m. to meet with an employee of the rectory of a church or to check the times of masses at the entrance and come a little before or after to meet the priest.
Cardenas Pediatric Hospital
Jean Delaney, in January 2019, went to Cardenas (not far from Varadero) to deliver children's medicines to the managers of the pediatric hospital. Known to everyone there as the Pediatric Hospital, its address is A 2 block from the Pre-university.
Here are the comments Jean shared with us:
"Hospital for 0-18 year olds who lack everything. The doc was so happy when he saw children's Tylenols and he jumped on the one for 0-3 months. I didn't take any pictures inside.... wouldn't have been able to.... out of respect for the users but the hospital is not new....
If you like children…. go play on your feelings…. let the rest do it and go see where the misery is. A sick child without medication, not even tylenol. Bring full…. lotion to wash….. camisoles…. washcloths. In other words: EVERYTHING a child could need.
One of our group's guides, Yenny Perez Pino, is willing to pass on your donations to the hospital if you don't want to go. Thanks Yenny!
Donate outside of the city
Others travel outside of Varadero to deliver their donations directly to families who are even poorer than those found in Varadero. Liette Côté and Yenny Perez Pino can give you directions (or sometimes even accompany you) if you wish.
Thanks to everyone in our group who shared information!
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