Our mission is to build community by fostering connections between the people of Cuba and the
United States.
We organize and lead trips to Cuba focused on connecting people to discuss issues that are of mutual concern and interest to people in Cuba and the United States. From law and healthcare to education, arts, culture, and agriculture, the theme-based trips we lead allow participants to develop meaningful people-to-people connections between Cuba and the United States.
The Cuban American Friendship Society:
Vermont's Cuba Connection
The Green Mountains may seem to be a long way from Cuba, thankfully, one of the most active organizations in the US bringing groups to Cuba is located right here in Burlington, Vermont.
The Cuban American Friendship Society (CAFS) is a local non-profit which was founded by Sandy Baird over 30 years ago to help break down the barriers between our two countries by hosting people-to-people exchanges as well as professional, cultural, and athletic trips to Cuba. The Cuban American Friendship Society has helped hundreds of Vermonters travel to the island nation to visit schools, medical facilities, organic farms, sports facilities—as well as to see how much we have in common even as our current administration reverts back to Cold War tactics.
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Fortunately, under the current rules the Cuban American Friendship Society is still legally allowed to bring groups to Cuba within some limits. Recently the Cuban American Friendship Society has helped teachers, lawyers, medical personnel, women’s groups, little league teams, and others who want to travel to Cuba legally. For anyone interested in traveling to Cuba, we still provide that opportunity. For example, all allowable travel has to have the purpose of helping Cuban people by staying at B & Bs, eating at “paladares” (privately owned restaurants) and taking private cabs as transportation. Our trips focus on direct interactions with Cuban citizens with whom we can share ideas, learn about life in Cuba, and explore the potential for future relationships.
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