• Cuba

Overview

This program will enable students to broaden their perspective of business & government-operated trade unions through an exploration of their evolution in Havana & Villa Clara. 

Explore the scope of Che Guevara’s influence on the working-class & his effect on how government addresses business ventures to this day. Students will also gain a more personal insight into Cuba's trade unions through meetings with union members by discussing their goals, challenges & experiences. 

Highlights

  • Worker’s Central Union of Cuba (CTC) – Meet with local members to enable them to compare & contrast the CTC to trade unions found in the U.S.
  • Che Guevara’s Memorial Complex – Walk around the memorial dedicated to one of the most prominent socialist figures in Cuban history
  • Trade union meetings – Meet Cubans who work in the educational, biotechnical & pharmaceutical fields to discuss their goals for growing these industries

Itinerary

Day 1: Havana

Arrive in Cuba & enjoy a bus tour of Modern Havana. Afterward, check into your hotel & eat an authentic welcome dinner to start off your time in Cuba. The evening is yours to explore on your own. 

Day 2: Havana

Meet representatives of the Central Union of Cuban Workers (CTC), an organization run by the Communist Party of Cuba, to learn how the CTC differs from its U.S. counterparts. After lunch at a local restaurant, drive to a training center for union leaders followed by a visit to a social community project. Return to the hotel & enjoy a free evening to explore your surroundings.  

Day 3: Havana

Start your day with a walking tour of Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982. You'll see typical Cuban architecture as you walk through Arms Square, Saint Francis of Assisi Square, the Old Square, the Cathedral Square & the Bodeguita del Medio. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before returning to your hotel to enjoy the rest of the day on your own.

Day 4: Havana - Villa Clara

Check out of your hotel & depart for the Villa Clara in central Cuba. Spend your day visiting the Ernesto Che Guevara’s Memorial sculptural complex, Che Guevara museum & the Martyrs of Santa Clara Battles Mausoleum. Meet with the Provincial Delegation of the Cuban Institute of Friendship (ICAP) & visit a community project. Finish the day with a scenic city tour of Villa Clara. 

Day 5: Villa Clara - Havana

Check out of your hotel & enjoy the cuisine of Villa Clara at a local restaurant. Return to Havana where you will spend the remainder of your trip. 

Day 6: Havana

Visit the “Scientific Pole” of Havana, a hub for biotechnical & pharmaceutical industries to meet with union workers & leaders to discuss their efforts to grow these promising industries. Explore the Ciudad Libertad Educational Complex, exchanging ideas with the union leaders of this educational sector.

Day 7: Havana

Check out of your hotel & transfer to José Martí International Airport for your return flight home.