THE ST. AUGUSTINE - BARACOA
FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION

Mission Statement
The St. Augustine-Baracoa Friendship Association is a non-profit, volunteer organization whose objectives are to establish, promote and foster a spirit of friendship with the citizens of Baracoa and in particular, with small, independent groups and associations of handicapped and/or disadvantaged people in the town of Baracoa, Cuba.

Baracoa is a small town on the easternmost point of Cuba, visited by Christopher Columbus in 1492. Like St. Augustine, it is the oldest continuously inhabited Spanish settlement in Cuba. St. Augustine and Baracoa are historically and culturally linked because of their shared Spanish heritage.

We live in a world fraught with the anxiety produced by international friction and political confrontation. Faced with this troubling environment, the Friendship Association strives to foster better awareness and understanding between the citizens of each city through a relationship of mutual concern and respect, and to provide self-help projects to Baracoa that relieve suffering, bring relief, ease tensions, aid learning, brighten lives and bring happiness to individuals and groups in a situation of stress, isolation, illness, poverty, deprivation, scarcity and meager resources.

Through self-help projects and accompanying humanitarian aid, the under-served and fragile populations in Baracoa will develop skills that can help them achieve a level of independence and improve their quality of life.

In St. Augustine, the Friendship Association will promote unique and stimulating cultural and educational activities related to Cuban culture and history and the historical relationship between St. Augustine and Baracoa.



Target groups:

  1. Asociación Cubana de Limitados Físico Motores ACLIFIM) - Cuban Association of the handicapped, a non-governmental organization that is run by and for the handicapped.
  2. Asociación Nacional del Ciego (ANCI) - National Association of the Blind, a non-governmental organization, run entirely by the blind and vision-impaired.
  3. Hogar Materno - Maternity Home, a center for women from the mountains and rural areas who have high risk pregnancies.
  4. Casa de los Abuelos - Grandparents' Home, a day care center for the elderly
  5. Asociación de Jubilados - Association for Retired Citizens.


Workshops include:

  • eye examinations and distribution of appropriate glasses
  • dental care and treatment
  • basic hygiene
  • activities of daily living
  • sewing, crocheting
  • bicycle repair
  • family gardens
  • bee keeping
  • administrative skills
  • recreational skills
  • special sports
  • exercise programs such as "sit n'fit", stretching and coordination
  • pre-natal, peri-natal and post-natal care for pregnant women at risk
  • care for the new-born
  • nutritional needs of the pregnant, elderly and infirm
  • oral histories with photos.
Links:
  • Friendship Association Board of Directors
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