Camilo and Che in Memory (audio) .
Every October, the Camilo-Che Ideological Day becomes a collective ritual of active memory. It’s not just a scheduling of events: it’s an ethical, pedagogical, and cultural mobilization that transforms schools into venues for homage, reflection, and creation.
From October 8th to 28th, the legacy of Camilo Cienfuegos and Ernesto Guevara is revived through murals, dramatizations, special morning sessions, contests, walks, debates, and community events. But beyond the activities, what distinguishes this day is its formative purpose: educating through example, sowing values through action. Regarding the value of this traditional initiative, Sarahi Triana Esnard, Deputy Director General of Education in Pedro Betancourt, expressed:
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Triana Esnard added that one of the fundamental purposes of the Camilo-Che Ideological Journey is to strengthen, through the educational sphere, the formation of values associated with thought, while revolutionary conduct, loyalty, dedication to duty, commitment to social justice, and an internationalist vocation become cross-cutting themes of this notable initiative.
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From a youth perspective, the Camilo-Che Day is projected as an exercise in political education, historical identity, and generational leadership. Both the José Martí Pioneers Organization and the Young Communists League have designed activities that allow children, adolescents, and young people to learn about the legacy of Camilo Cienfuegos and Ernesto Guevara through everyday practice.
Special morning sessions, symbolic walks, creative contests, dramatizations, panels, and spaces for reflection are part of a program that not only honors but also educates. In Pedro Betancourt, these initiatives are articulated with educational intent and an ethical sense.
We spoke with Ledianys Mejías González, first secretary of the Young Communists League in the municipality, about how the imprint of the Hero of Yaguajay and the Heroic Guerrilla is extolled by both organizations:
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Mejías González emphasized that the relevance of Camilo and Che lies not only in their exploits, but in their ability to inspire new generations to work for a more just, supportive society committed to the Cuban revolutionary project.
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The Federation of High School Students views Camilo-Che Day as an opportunity to reaffirm youth commitment to the founding values of the Revolution. In each school, FEEM students have organized initiatives that combine critical thinking, artistic expression, and active participation. We spoke with Lázaro Alejandro Pérez Pérez, municipal president of FEEM in Pedro Betancourt, about how this tribute is organized by the student organization:
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Pérez Pérez emphasized that the Day not only allows for a tribute, but also strengthens young people’s sense of belonging, historical awareness, and transformative calling. For FEEM, Camilo and Che represent the ideal of a youth who thinks, acts, and builds.
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Camilo Cienfuegos and Ernesto Guevara not only shared trenches: they shared convictions. From different geographies and unique backgrounds, both converged in the dream of emancipating the island, leaving a mark not limited to combat, but extending to ethics, thought, and unconditional dedication.
Their leadership in decisive moments, their ability to inspire through action, and their fidelity to the revolutionary work established them as permanent symbols of Latin American justice and dignity. And every October, Camilo-Che Day glorifies them not as statues of the past, but as living role models who continue to summon Cuban youth to think, create, and fight.
Written by Yadiel Barbón.
