Secours Populaire’s first intervention in Cuba took place in 1963, in response to a climate-related emergency, explained Olga Alvarez, a member of the organization’s international solidarity team, to Prensa Latina.

“Currently, in light of the severe energy crisis affecting Cuba, we have launched a project to provide 1,000 solar panels to the country,” she stated.

She noted that the initiative was coordinated with the Cuban Association for Animal Production (ACPA) and the Cuban Association of Agroforestry Technicians (ACTAF) to identify priority locations—in consultation with the relevant government ministries—for the installation of the solar panels.

This effort has benefited, among others, the Poultry Research Institute; the Center for Research and Development of Medicines (CIDEM)—which conducts work related to diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s—as well as various hospitals and special education centers, she explained.

Furthermore, she pointed out that within the framework of its cooperation projects in Latin America, Secours Populaire does not work solely on a bilateral basis with Cuba; it also engages with partners in Colombia, El Salvador, Peru, Argentina, and other nations.

“The truth is that we establish links with other organizations. For instance, the project ‘Cooperating Differently with Agents of Change brought together associations from Colombia, El Salvador, and Mexico, alongside Secours Populaire, the ACPA, and ACTAF,” she said.

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