(l-r) Rhianna Smith, Ambassador Dr. Sharon Marshall, UNESCO Director Anne Lemaistre, Stacia Martindale and Kodi Husbands
Despite experiencing the island-wide blackout which affected Cuba from Friday, 18 October, three Barbadians have been able to benefit from the training courses in which they have been participating in Havana.
The three – Stacia Martindale, Rhianna Smith and Kodi Husbands – are taking part in training which is being offered within the framework of the Caribbean Cultural Training Hub of the UNESCO Programme Transcultura: Integrating Cuba, the Caribbean and the European Union through Culture and Creativity. It is organized by the UNESCO Regional Office in Havana, and funded by the European Union.
Historian and Genealogical Researcher, Stacia Martindale, is in the course “Designing Small Businesses in Heritage Tourism Destinations”. Landscape Architectural Technician, Kodi Husbands, and Rhianna Smith, Assistant Coordinator and Researcher of the Barbados National Register of Historic Places, are participating in “Introduction to the Management of Integrated Development of Historic Centers”.
For Ms. Martindale, “So far, the experience has been very amazing. I’ve been loving the culture of Cuba and the general experience in class. It’s really been exciting for me. It’s my first time in Cuba. I think I know quite a bit about Cuba just because I’m really interested in History. I’m actually a History teacher, so to come here where that history has happened is really, really exciting for me.”
Mr. Husbands is on his second visit to Cuba. “The first time was on a vacation and it really resonated with me the first time. I got to understand the culture a lot more. I resonated a lot more with the people after speaking to them about their experiences and how they live. That’s what inspired me to continue working in sustainable architecture and design, and cater for society and cater for the people, rather than doing it for money.”
He adds, “So far I’ve found different methods or techniques and practices which can be useful for back home in my field in architecture. And different ways I can further develop my country, whether it’s towns like Bridgetown, or Speightstown or Oistins. Or even smaller communities like in the East Coast, or in St. George or more rural areas as well.”
In June, Ms. Smith benefitted from a course at the prestigious International Film and Television School of San Antonio de Los Baños, in the outskirts of Havana. She shares that, “This experience has been a lot different compared to when I was in San Antonio. Havana is a lot more active and has a lot more to see. And so I’ve been able to immerse in the culture in ways that I was not able to the first time around.”
Of this latest experience she says, “We have been having some tours where we have been seeing examples of not only the restoration of historic sites and buildings, but also the repurposing of those buildings for uses that really fit the community. For instance, earlier this week we visited a day care. But it was a day care for the elderly which doubles as a day care for babies and so on. And so, what they are trying to do is to integrate those two generations and, of course develop a consciousness of caring for the elderly. Things like that have led me to conclude that it’s been nothing short of inspiring so far, and I’m just looking forward to seeing where things go.” (END)
