Leaving the Footprints of Some First Steps

Leaving the Footprints of Some First Steps / Somos+, Niurvys Roca
Posted on July 31, 2015

Somos+, Niurvys Roca, 22 June 2015 — I inserted a flash drive in my old
and slow computer, and a young man's image appeared, nothing special
about it except for his courage in questioning the limitations that we
Cubans must endure. I admit that I had to contain an exclamation. Until
that moment, I did not think anyone capable of revealing our problems in
such a bold way, direct and honest. The next morning, people were
talking about it, in whispers, in the schools, on street corners, and
even at my workplace. Later, a silence took over and everything seemed
to return to normality — not because it is normal, but because it is the
same, that which involves despair, denial and sadness.

Many years after connecting that flash drive, a young man I barely knew
asked me, "Do you remember Eliécer Ávila, that guy from the University
of Information Science (UCI)? He has a proposal that you should read."

I thought that Eliécer had been "disappeared," and I confess that I was
very happy to find out that he was active, because this was about a hope
for changes for my country. The young man continued, "He's started a
movement called Somos+, but…you know…without Internet access it's almost
impossible to hear much from them. I've heard that there's a girl in
Spain who helps out. I'll try to get in touch with her."

Meanwhile, a group of friends and I would gather to discuss how we could
help Cuba in any way possible and, suddenly, that young man who was now
well-known to me, said to me, "We have contact with those who are
supporting the movement from abroad!" I knew than that we should take
part in our country's history, and that it was the perfect opportunity
to get involved.

Today we really are more, and so many more are joining that, when I try
to recall those early days when there were hardly ten of us in exile, it
is almost impossible not to share the excitement. I remember a comment
about how we should be called "Somos-" ["We Are Less"], which hurt me at
that time, but now I laugh about it because time puts everything in its
place. You have to be inside of this thing to know how delicious it is
to unite with other Cubans who are full of energy, abilities, proposals,
curiosity, and genuine desire to do for our country. Today I can only
feel pride in what is accomplished if only the individual desires it —
all that is obtained when love and dedication are given to something.

Translated by: Alicia Barraqué Ellison

Source: Leaving the Footprints of Some First Steps / Somos+, Niurvys
Roca | Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/leaving-the-footprints-of-some-first-steps-somos-niurvys-roca/