Convivia La Habana-Germinal

Slow Food Cuba joins projects linked to the production and consumption of food related to human health and environment preservation. These groups are linked to several Cuban institutions that lead the processes of sustainable feeding. They linked different fields such as education, health, production, storage and consumption of food, agroecology, permaculture, renewable energy and food culture. We have worked in an integrated way. We also have collaborated with the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Turin and other university projects. Cuba has had representation in the Terra Madre events since the first edition. We have recently worked with Chez Panisse Restaurant in Berkeley, CA, in a prolific exchange of cooking and eating experiences.

I believe in the Slow Food International philosophy because of its universality and transcendence. I consider that it has supported my activities about food education with many people. All fields of the human development are included in this idea. In Cuba we will work for increasing the impact of the Convivia and for incorporating more actors of Cuban society, related to the projections of this organization. I look forward to strength Slow Food in this area. We will contribute to the achievement of the three basic objectives decided in the last Congress. In order to accomplish these goals I count with my Cuban fellows and the invaluable support of the councilors worldwide. Ideas and actions for good, clean and fair food will help us in this regard.

This is the first Convivia in Cuba which performs the following activities:

• Kitchen Workshop for elders, from the University of Havana, with 30 people involved. The workshops last from October to May, once a month and we already have completed four editions (2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011 -2012, 2012-2013). The main objectives of this group are the
  rescue of traditional Cuban recipes and to improve family eating habits.
• Elective course "Feeding culture", with a group of students of the Faculty of Biology in the University of Havana, we have alreadycompleted three editions. The educational program contains 30 hours.
• Every year we celebrate the Terra Madre Day.