Witness History
Witness History
The ‘army’ that taught Cuba to read and write
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October 19, 2022
9 minutes
Available for over a year
In 1961, Fidel Castro launched a nationwide campaign aimed to eradicate illiteracy in Cuba.
An ‘army’ of volunteers known as brigadistas equipped with books and pencils travelled across the country to teach people how to read and write.
Alex Collins spoke to Rosa Hernandez Acosta who taught many adults even though she was a 10-year-old schoolgirl herself.
(Photo: Rosa Hernandez Acosta. Credit: Kian Seara)