I have wanted to tell this story for a long time, my uncle suggested it several times for my chronicles, but after listening to it so many times; I thought I knew it by heart and did not imagine how much more was behind it.

I got home and Roxy was interviewing her grandmother for a school assignment, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the literacy campaign, which this December commemorates that feat of Cuban youth. I joined the conversation without intervening, just as a listener and I will tell you about it.

The literacy tutor

Miriam Teresita Socías Zaldívar is the protagonist of this story of young women who contributed a lot to education. She was only 13 years old when the call to be part of that feat reached her high school, so no one understood the connotation that it carried and that 60 years later she continues to surprise us with her anecdotes.

The first question was about the decision to participate and without thinking, she assures that it was the task that the youth of her time had to assume, to help so many families who did not even know how to write their names.

In order to register, her parents had to sign a form and also offer support for the task. A few days later they left for Varadero, where they received the uniforms, a notebook and a Chinese lantern, along with the necessary instructions, to be distributed throughout the regions of the island.

Classes started

Already located in the Elia sugar mill community, in a neighborhood located 16 km inland called Santa Ana, she began her work as a teacher, it was not easy to take everyone to the classrooms, but very soon she was accepted and loved by the neighbors, who showed their affection by giving her the best fruit of their harvest.

She spent about 6 months living far from her house, sharing with that family of farmers, who treated her like a daughter. During the day, she prepared the classes and at night, by the light of her lantern, she taught to six adult students.

She happily remembers her most picturesque disciple, he was a very old Haitian, who had the best interest in learning, but his years spent in hard work in the fields no longer allowed him to assimilate the letters, he only was able to write his name and surname, which for him was a gift from the Revolution to stop signing with his footprints.

The rest learned easily and advanced according to the steps in the booklet, December came and her task had to end, it was difficult to leave behind that new family of which she became one more member.

The big day

Given the notice, they picked up all the literacy tutors and by train they left for the capital, there the reunion with their companions and the exchange of the various experiences, was the theme of the day.

They were euphoric, happy, the task had concluded successfully. This is what the Commander-in-Chief made known, when he spoke to them and from the Revolution Square in Havana, declared to the world that Cuba was the first country free of illiteracy in America.

In the time

Looking at the progress in education over time, Miriam thinks that her dedication was worth it, thanks to that everyone who participated saw education differently and many continued their studies and became teachers, others chose different paths, but all at the service of the Revolution, which thanks to the forward vision of our Commander-in-Chief Fidel, banished forever from our people the darkness of ignorance.

May I have a word?

I am still present and silent, I was very moved by the course of the interview that I had heard over and over again since I was a child, but guided by my daughter it has sounded different, when I tell it to you, I think I am paying off a debt with my uncle and with other literacy tutors in my family, who like my mother: “brought the light of truth with letters.”

Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García