Radio Cadena Agramonte emisiora de Camagüey
Santiago de Chile, August 25 - Empowering Lives Through Solidarity: The Goal of the Varsot Foundation.
The goal of the Varsot Foundation is to empower lives through solidarity, developing projects that assist children, the elderly, and other sectors in both Cuba and Chile.
Varsot is an acronym formed from the surnames of Pedro Vargas Sotomayor, who participated in the war for Cuba’s independence from Spanish colonialism.
“This Chilean, who gave his life to liberate another homeland and became a brigade general and a trusted man of Antonio Maceo, is a source of inspiration for us. It’s something that fascinates us,” said Rodrigo Devia, president of the organization, in an interview with Prensa Latina.
In honor of his memory, a group of friends decided to create the foundation at the port of San Antonio to promote solidarity with a people that has faced the commercial, economic, and financial blockade from the United States for over 60 years.
Devia reported that they are currently conducting a campaign aimed at supporting the geriatric ward of Faustino Pérez Hospital in the city of Matanzas.
“Súmate 15+15” is the name of this initiative, which seeks to provide 15 wheelchairs and an equal number of anti-decubitus mattresses, in addition to medications, to the aforementioned facility.
The foundation promotes solidarity packages and, in the last two years, has sent one and a half tons of medicine, materials, and supplies for hospitals and polyclinics.
In the municipality of La Lisa, in partnership with Resumen Latinoamericano, they renovated Elpidio Valdés Park, painted a mural with the support of the Chilean artist Tato Ayres, and provided playground equipment and trampolines.
They also plan to support a local football club by providing sports equipment such as balls and jerseys, as well as bringing in a coach to share his experiences.
Part of Varsot’s work is also to promote cultural exchange, and they will soon bring the filmmaker Sergio Eguino to Chile, who will present the documentary La raíz del Olivo, featuring five life stories of Palestinians who arrived in Cuba.
Varsot is also developing projects in Chile, including “Solidarizando sobre ruedas,” which repairs used bicycles, purchases spare parts, and lends them to children from low-income families.
In addition, they sponsor a football school called Río Rapel, which is very important because sports help keep children away from drugs and alcoholism, as stated.
Currently, they are working on a project for the literacy of small-scale farmers in the municipality of Navidad.
If we were to define in a few words the main commitment of the Varsot Foundation, we could say that it is to empower lives, expressed Devia. (Text and photos: PL)
