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The Cuba Partnership

The Cuba Partnership
of Baltimore and El Centro Presbyteries
is pleased to announce

A Special Summer Workshop

For the Young Adults
of its International Partners in
Europe, the United States and Latin America
At the Presbyterian Camp in Santa Clara, Cuba
July 9-21, 2005

The two week workshop, Idolatry and the History of the Church, will be led by Pastors and Leaders of the IRPC (Iglesia Presbiteriana Reformada en Cuba). Spoken Spanish is not a prerequisite, there will be plenty of translators.

Interested people must contact Ashland Presbyterian Church at 410-527-1844 or email John Walter by April 15. Availability will be limited and the visa process is unlike any other country in the world, requiring a 90 day advance notice. There is no Cuban Consulate in Washington DC; everything must be done through Havana.

Daily Schedule of Events

DayMorningAfternoonEvening
Friday,
July 8		 Depart from BWI    
Saturday,
July 9		 Arrival in Sancti Spiritus   Meet all the workshop participants.
Sunday,
July 10		 Bible study Sunday Church Service Social work Free night
Monday,
July 11		 Travel to Santa Clara and visit the city Lodging at the Presbyterian Camp Welcoming ceremony and presentations.
Tuesday,
July 12		 Conference Time to learn songs Words from represented countries Group Circles Games Dancing and Relaxation Festival of the Countries  
Wednesday,
July 13		 Conference - Lecture Time to learn songs Words from represented countries Group Circles Games Dancing and Relaxation Festival of the Countries  
Thursday,
July 14		 Conference - Lecture Time to learn songs Words from represented countries Group Circles Games Dancing and Relaxation Festival of the Countries  
Friday,
July 15		 Conference - Lecture Time to learn songs Words from represented countries Group Circles Games Dancing and Relaxation Festival of the Countries  
Saturday,
July 16		 Visit to the City of Cienfuegos Return to the Presbyterian Church in Sancti Spiritus Free Night
Sunday,
July 17		 Bible Study Sunday Church Service    
Monday,
July 18		 Touring Cuba More details are coming  
Tuesday,
July 19		 Touring Cuba    
Wednesday,
July 20		 Touring Cuba    
Thursday,
July 21		 Touring Cuba    
Friday,
July 22		 Depart Sancti Spiriti    

View of a pavilion at the Campamento, the Presbyterian Camp

The Campamento

Program Costs:

  • Tuition for two week program,
    July 9-21:............ $ 880.00 USD
  • Tuition for the first week only,
    July 9-17:............ $ 418.00 USD
  • Second week only is not offered.

Estimated Transportation costs based on using BWI as departure point.

Roundtrip BWI-MIAVariable$ 235.00Price as of
expedia.com,
3/4/2005
Trip insurance Fixed $ 15.00 Optional,
domestic only
Marazul Charter Variable $ 460.00  
Airport Tax, Miami Fixed $ 60.00 Paid in USD
at departure
Airport tax, Cuba Fixed $ 28.00 Paid in CUC
at departure
Religious Visa Fixed $ 93.50 Paid in CUC
at arrival in Cuba
Total   $ 891.50  

Notes:

  • Prices of the Domestic and Charter flights can fluctuate. The costs listed above are most likely very similar to what we will experience in July, however we may see variations. The second column above indicates whether costs are Fixed or likely to be Variable.
  • The participant must carry $181.50 in USD cash to personally pay the Airport taxes and visa cost. This is not included in the program cost and will not be covered by the Cuba Partnership.
  • The US Government sets the amount of charters allowed each month between Miami and Cuba. While the day and time has been stable during the last two years, one needs to book as far in advance as possible.
  • Participants will send airline ticket costs to Baltimore Presbytery, who will purchase the tickets in group.
  • I have requested details for the second week. When they arrive we will post them to cubapartnership.org.

Program and Transportation cost summary:

  • Tuition and Transportation for
    two week program:............ $ 1,771.50
  • Tuition and Transportation for
    one week program:............ $ 1,271.50

Information required for Religious Cuban Visa:

There is no Cuban Consulate in the United States where one might apply for visas. This process is handled through the Cuba Partnership's contact in Havana. The process of getting a visa can take as long as 90 days; therefore, it is urgent that we submit the following information to Havana ASAP.

The Religious visa which we will use permits the participant to stay in the homes of Cuban hosts and experience their lives directly. During the first week, the participants will be lodged at the Presbyterian Camp, (CANIP) It is just what it implies, a camp with cabins, mess hall, conference areas, swimming pool, recreation areas.

Visa cost refunds are not possible IF the information has been submitted to the Cuban Government. It IS possible to cancel the application (and therefore incur no costs) if the cancellation of the visa comes approximately six weeks before the scheduled trip.

Please send via email the following information to Joanne Ruther at jruther@ashlandpc.org as soon as possible. Part 1 is general information. Part 2 is for the visa. Both parts required.

Part 1

  • Name
  • Age
  • Sex
  • Vegetarian?
  • Denomination
  • Email address
  • Plan to attend both weeks? or first week only?
  • Areas of interest (outline, no essays)
  • Health or medical requirements

Part 2

  • Name (exactly as it appears on your passport.)
  • Your complete address.
  • Duration of stay in Cuba
  • Passport number
  • Date of expiration: The date of expiration cannot be before January 2006
  • Date of birth
  • Birth place

Please direct all questions to John Walter at jgwalter@toad.net or Joanne Ruther at jruther@ashlandpc.org. Once you have decided to participate, your name will be added to an email group called: Cuba Taller, 2005. All notices and information updates will be handled in this group email format.