Julito Díaz School: A Place Reborn
With the support of the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), UNICEF has contributed to the rehabilitation of schools affected by Hurricane Rafael in the province of Artemisa.
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The Julito Díaz González Primary School, in Artemisa province, exudes the charm of rural schools. Its small, orderly classrooms stand in cheerful contrast to the outdoor spaces. Freshly sprouted grass, the blue sky, and the scent of the Cuban countryside create a serene environment where children learn in harmony with nature.
Yet this tranquility hasn’t always prevailed in this landscape of school children’s scarves and low-flying birds. In November 2024, Hurricane Rafael swept through much of Artemisa province. Julito Díaz was among the many schools battered by the heavy winds. The second building’s roof, already weakened by a previous tornado in Puerta de la Güira, was destroyed. As locals put it, “Rafael came and finished the job.”
Almost a year later, the damage is still visible. The hurricane didn’t just tear off roofs and leave children with no classrooms — it also dismantled the electrical system, sending fluorescent light tubes flying. The mango tree towering over the first building was also wounded by the hurricane winds. Now, the mangoes fall prematurely, some never ripen, and everyone knows that’s Rafael’s doing too.
Maylexi García Mesa, the school’s principal, recounts how they managed to resume classes after the hurricane by splitting the 97 enrolled students into two shifts, using only one classroom block. Groups alternated between morning and afternoon sessions. Maylexi leads a team of 30 staff members, including teachers and non-teaching staff —27 of them women. Among them, union secretary Ainadi González Osorio emerged as a key figure in the recovery efforts. Their deep-rooted connection to the community inspired widespread support.
Despite the damage, joy is gradually returning. During the recovery process, help arrived from the Asbestos Cement Factory and the Electric Company. UNICEF provided roofs, which were installed in record time by a brigade formed by teachers’ spouses, the principal, and several parents. Thanks to the efforts of other parents, the water tank — also supplied by UNICEF through the contribution of CERF — is being placed on a newly built base to ensure proper installation.
Work continues on the second classroom block, where plastering, painting and cleaning are needed —tasks that families of students and teachers have pledged to complete. More complex repairs, such as replacing damaged doors, installing windows, restoring lighting and wiring, remain pending. Still, the school staff remains optimistic and express their gratitude: “What matters most is that we have a roof again.”
During summer break, students visited the school to greet their teachers and witness their dream of new classrooms becoming real. The joy of the children of Zaporte and Puerta de la Güira, who spend much of their time between the classrooms and the mango tree, is unique. Every morning, the school bus collects them from various locations, and parents entrust their children to the care of dedicated teachers until the bus brings them back home.
Andy, the son of the school computer teacher, often accompanies his mother in the rebuilding efforts. He started third grade this September in one of the newly restored classrooms. Other students also helped with reconstruction during their vacation. The most heartwarming thing is that they have been able to witness their school’s transformation — and see how their parents and teachers have worked side by side in rebuilding it.
Behind the smiles of the teaching staff lies a difficult reality: lives marked by hardship, children of different ages —including those with special needs— and daily challenges like thirteen-hour blackouts and financial strain. Yet the teachers return each day to mow the lawn, water the plants, keep the classrooms tidy, and bring the dream school of the children from Zaporte and Puerta de la Güira closer to life.
As the new school year approached, a spirit of gratitude for the help received and hope for what is still to come unfolded. Sixth-grade teacher Yaquelín Ayes awaited her students in a nice classroom, while principal Maylexi oversaw every detail for the September 1st reopening.
Like all the teachers in the school, they didn’t want to miss the joy of nearly a hundred children returning to class —or the pride of beginning another school year. The students of Julito Díaz school will continue learning math and Spanish Language, but they are also learning how to restore hope after the storm.
