La Casa de la Guayabera sociocultural project, a local municipal development initiative in Sancti Spíritus

Where
Cuba
When
2016
Who
Provincial Office of Culture in Sancti Spíritus Provincial Office of Economy and Planning
Key objectives of the measure:

Develop sociocultural activities in the community with children, youth and adults.

Creation, design, production and marketing of the traditional Cuban guayabera.

Promote exchange on themes linked to social and sustainable development.

Development of annual theoretical events on culture and local sustainable development.

Stimulate marketing through self-employment and artists and artisans of the Cuban Fund of Cultural Assets (FCBC).

Scope of the measure:
Local
Nature of the measure:
institutional
Main feature of the measure:

The project falls within the framework of the resolution of the Ministry of the Economy and Planning to support municipal local-development initiatives which generate income, substitute imports and create jobs.  The Municipal Local-Development Initiative (MLDI) promotes the active participation of governments in the development strategy through the management of economic projects that are self-financed, generate income by substituting imports, especially foodstuffs, and obtain profits that will benefit local communities in a sustainable manner. It consists in a CUC and CUP fund to finance municipal initiatives through credits. Once they are approved, there is a commitment to return the initial investment and give a previously negotiated percentage of the profits to the municipal government to be reinvested in social sustainable development actions.

La Casa de la Guayabera is a local development initiative in the province of Sancti Spíritus registered as an MLDI. It is located in a house where cultural and recreational activities are held with different age groups, nautical activities along the Yayabo River are organised, and theoretical events on culture and sustainable development are conducted. It has a museum with guayaberas donated by national and international figures, as well as a shop where artisans and self-employed workers can sell their products. There is also a cafeteria-restaurant managed by a self-employed worker and a bar managed by the ARTEX Paradiso agency.

The project is self-sustainable and generates employment constituting an example of a joint state and non-state venture.

The country has 19 MLDIs in the culture sector.

Results expected through the implementation of the measure:

Implement initiatives showing the value of culture as a driver for local sustainable economic development

Generate sustainable joint management models.

Use state and non-state resources to generate employment and financial gain.

Promote the creation, marketing and consumption of local cultural activities, goods and products (the guayabera and local crafts)

Add a cultural MLDI to the municipal development strategy of Sancti Spíritus

Financial resources allocated to implement the measure:

N/A

Main conclusions of the evaluation of the measure:

The La Casa de la Guayabera Municipal Local Development Initiative (MLDI) has allowed the active participation of creators and artists in the local economic development strategy, promoting self-financing and the generation of economic income thereby substituting imports, enabling access to identity products, such as the guayabera and other autochthonous artistic expressions. Likewise, it has contributed to the incorporation of different population sectors and age groups, and to capacity-building and development in certain trades and activities closely linked to culture contributing to sustainable social development.

Indicators used to determine impact:
Economic and financial reports.Statistics and control of the number of visitors.Report to municipal government on activities.
Goal(s) of UNESCO's 2005 Convention
Cultural Domain(s)
Multi-domain
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