“The Path Home,” in cooperation with Rossotrudnichestvo, helped organize a celebration for Cuban families with children

More than 40 people from Cuba living in Russia visited the Vadim Zadorozhny Museum of Technology. The tour was organized by the social movement “The Path Home” and Rossotrudnichestvo together with their partners.

On Children’s Day, June 1, several dozen families supported by the charitable foundation “A Home Nearby” took part in a guided tour of the Vadim Zadorozhny Museum of Technology in the Moscow Region. According to the foundation’s president, Father Dionysius (Grishkov), rector of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “The Unburnt Bush” in Otradnoye, the foundation provides pastoral care to more than 500 families of Cuban origin. They are all very different people: students at Russian universities, migrant workers, people who have relocated, and refugees. By providing them with charitable assistance and helping them learn Russian and obtain documents granting them the right to stay in Russia, the foundation’s staff gradually built up this significant Spanish-speaking community around themselves. But working with them presents certain challenges.

The foundation runs several programs for foreigners, including “Language and Traditions” and “The New Path.” Participants engage with Russian Orthodox culture, study the language and traditions, and adapt to their new living conditions.

In the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland, it is very important to tell Russia’s new residents about its heroic military history and show them the unique collections of Russian museums such as the Vadim Zadorozhny Museum of Technology. Father Dionysius is not the only one who believes this.

The tour and conversations took place in a very informal, friendly atmosphere. This was also noted by a representative of the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba, who came with his family. Adrián Rivas, the embassy’s second secretary, has lived in Russia for six years—he studied Russian for two years at the Maurice Thorez Institute of Linguistics and has worked at the diplomatic mission for four years, where he is responsible for relations with Russian public organizations.

Cuba and Russia have signed a bilateral visa-free agreement. Cubans may stay in Russia for 90 days during a calendar year. During this time, they try to obtain documents granting them the right to stay in the country, find a place to study or work, or acquire citizenship. As a rule, all the families taking part in events organized by the “A Home Nearby” foundation have many children. Two tour participants—the wives of soldiers serving in the special military operation who have signed contracts with Russia’s Ministry of Defense—are expecting to receive citizenship soon.

After a guided tour of the museum’s main exhibition of vintage cars and motorcycles, the guests were treated to navy-style pasta and a sausage roll with tea. The children then played in the museum’s playgrounds, while their parents looked at the military equipment displayed outdoors. After that, a comfortable bus took the tired but happy Cubans back to Moscow.

According to Father Dionysius, this is not the first joint event with the “The Path Home” project. The volunteer organization that assists people relocating to Russia has helped organize several celebrations, not only in Russia but also in Sri Lanka.

Photo: Roman Sokurenko