Comite De la Defensia de la Revolucion (CDR)

The CDRs were first created after the Revolution to dismiss people with negative intentions and uphold the core socialist values of the Revolution. But it morphed, through community involvement, implication inschoolsandeducation.TheCDRsmaintain organized communities and provide support for them. For example, they distributed vaccines, and participate in food production and recycling, with their goal being the enlightenment and betterment of the population.

TheirworkhasbenefitedmanyCubancommunities andfamilies,whilekeepingtheirgoal.Theyhave strivedandsupportedwomen’spresenceinpolitical affairs,atlocalandprovinciallevels.Indeed,the CDRchapterthatwevisitedhasamajorityofwomen asitsmembers,butmorethanthat,theleadership positionswereheldprimarilybywomen.

THE SPEAKER SAID SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF:

“TO GIVE OUR HEARTS, AND NOT OUR SURPLUS” WHICH I HAVE OFTEN SEEN IN SOCIETIES OF THE GLOBAL NORTH. OFTEN, WE GIVE OUR SURPLUS OF MATERIAL OR FOOD TO THOSE IN NEED. AS AN INDIVIDUAL, IT IS OFTEN TO THOSE IN SITUATIONS OF HOMELESSNESS, AND AS A SOCIETY, WE OFTEN GIVE OUR SURPLUS TO CHARITIES, FOOD BANKS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. THE CDR, HOWEVER, THEY INTENTIONALLY GAVE THEIR PRODUCTIONS AND SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITIES, AND NOT JUST LEFTOVERS