On Thursday, Vietnam’s First Lady, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly, visited Vo Thi Thang Elementary School in Havana, accompanied by Lis Cuesta Peraza, a Cuban Ministry of Culture official, and Naima Ariatne Trujillo Barreto, Cuba's Minister of Education.
In a rare scene for official visits by foreign dignitaries to the island, the wife of Vietnamese President To Lam distributed educational materials and gifts to the students of the school located in the Playa municipality of Havana.
“The First Lady of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam was received at Vo Thi Thang Elementary School by students and teachers as part of the activities planned by the high-level delegation led by Comrade To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, who is visiting our country,” announced the Cuban Ministry of Education (MINED) on social media.
Although the Cuban state media and MINED's communications department did not mention the donation or share images of the event, Vietnamese official media outlets reported on the unusual occurrence, publishing photos of the wives of both leaders presenting gifts to the students.
According to Vietnam's state television channel VTV, Ngo Phuong Ly, along with Cuesta Peraza, handed over educational materials and school supplies to the students. They also listened to Cuban educational leaders and the school’s principal, who highlighted the history and development of the Martial Arts School.
A Tradition of Solidarity and Friendship
Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly expressed her hopes that the school would continue its tradition, uphold the revolutionary cause of past generations, and nurture the enduring solidarity and faithful relationship between Vietnam and Cuba.
Founded by Fidel Castro in late 1968, Vo Thi Thang Elementary School is located on Quinta Avenida in the upscale Miramar neighborhood. It stands as a notable institution within Cuba's public education system and is frequently visited by foreign delegations to showcase the "achievements" of the so-called "revolution" in education. Alongside the "Solidarity with Chile" elementary school, Vo Thi Thang is a prime example.
In addition to having well-maintained facilities, decent classroom furniture, and educational materials absent in most Cuban schools, Vo Thi Thang boasts a modern Computer Room donated by the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in March 2018.
Vietnamese Media Highlights Educational Commitment
Vietnamese state television highlighted on its website that “the school is committed to building more spacious facilities and continuously improving the quality of education to meet learning needs and be worthy of the affection of the Party, State, and People of Vietnam, as well as the special friendship between the two countries.”
“Despite being halfway across the world, Vietnam and Cuba share an invisible bond that tightly unites them. This bond is the traditional solidarity, camaraderie, and special closeness between the peoples of the two countries, constantly nurtured by President Ho Chi Minh, Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro, and generations of leaders from both nations. The beautiful school named after heroine Vo Thi Thang is a vivid expression of this special relationship and mutual affection,” said the First Lady of Vietnam.
Lis Cuesta's Controversial Role
From local culinary events to high-level visits, Lis Cuesta Peraza, the wife of Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel, has played a key role in organizing and promoting exclusive tourism and gastronomic events, as well as hosting visiting government delegations.
Despite the ongoing food crisis during her husband's tenure, Cuesta Peraza has spared no expense in entertaining her guests, drawing criticism from the public and disdain from many Cubans who are fed up with her media presence and deliberate provocations on social media.