UNESCO Calls for International Cooperation to Support the Continuity of Education in Cuba

In response to the damage caused by Hurricane Melissa in October 2025 in the provinces of Granma and Santiago de Cuba, in the eastern part of the country, UNESCO, in coordination with Cuba's Ministry of Education, rolled out the "Rebuilding Hope" route, a comprehensive intervention aimed at restoring learning and strengthening the resilience of education communities.

The initiative included:

• Socio-emotional support for students, teachers and families.
• Capacity-building for teachers in socio-emotional support.
• Youth-led projects to rebuild trust, a sense of belonging and well-being in school environments.

In addition to educational materials, sports, recreational and musical resources were provided. Workshops were also conducted integrating art as a tool to promote recovery and strengthen community cohesion.

Over the past year, UNESCO has contributed to the education response in 41 schools, reaching more than 10,000 students and 1,000 teachers. The intervention included 14 schools affected by Hurricanes Rafael and Óscar and the earthquake in Guantánamo, Granma, Artemisa and Havana, and 27 schools impacted by Hurricane Melissa in Granma and Santiago de Cuba.

These actions, funded by UNESCO's Emergency Fund for SDG 4, consolidate an approach that links educational recovery, socio-emotional well-being and youth participation.

UNESCO underscores that education is a fundamental human right and, in emergency contexts, a factor of protection, stability and hope. Schools are more than places of teaching: they function as social protection mechanisms that provide structure, safe routines, emotional support and access to essential services. Therefore, ensuring their safe and continuous operation is a core component of both humanitarian response and sustainable development strategies.