About This Mission
This mission is designed as a working cultural exchange rooted in Cuba’s western music traditions. Participants collaborate directly with local musicians, dancers, and community leaders to support creative ecosystems while contributing practical resources.
At the same time, the experience allows for meaningful connection. Participants engage with artists in their own environments, gaining a deeper understanding of rumba’s role in everyday life.
The work focuses on strengthening cultural infrastructure through direct support—providing materials, facilitating workshops, and investing in artists whose work sustains local communities.
This is not a passive tour. It is a structured, respectful exchange built around participation, collaboration, and long-term cultural support.
WHY THIS MISSION EXISTS
In Havana and Matanzas, rumba is more than music—it is a living cultural system. However, many artists face ongoing limitations in access to resources, materials, and consistent income.
- Limited access to instruments and repair materials
- Lack of stable performance opportunities
- Minimal infrastructure to support workshops and training
- Economic barriers affecting full-time artistic work
This mission focuses on supporting the sustainability of these cultural traditions through direct engagement, fair compensation, and resource distribution.
The goal is not short-term aid, but long-term cultural continuity and community-based support.
Partnership & Logistics
The CreatiVrole Project leads the mission design, including the aid strategy, community partnerships, and overall program focus. Havana Music Tours serves as the operational partner, managing all on-the-ground logistics and ensuring the trip is structured, compliant, and professionally executed.
Havana Music Tours coordinates accommodations, transportation, local staffing, and daily scheduling. Participants stay in carefully selected private casas, and all travel within Cuba is arranged through trusted local drivers and coordinators. The team on the ground includes musicians, educators, and community partners who are directly involved in the mission work.
From arrival to departure, logistics are fully managed, allowing participants to focus on the work itself rather than navigating travel details. All activities are organized in advance to align with authorized travel requirements while supporting practical, community-based impact.
Sample Itinerary
Havana & Matanzas | September 14th – 19th, 2026
This mission is intentionally aligned with the Festival del Caribe (Fiesta del Fuego) in Santiago de Cuba, allowing participants to engage with artists, cultural leaders, and communities during one of the most important gatherings of Caribbean culture. Each day combines structured mission work with direct exposure to the cultural context that informs and sustains these communities.
Participants arrive at Havana (HAV) airport and transfer to local casas in Vedado or Old Havana.
The day begins with an orientation centered on the “Registry of Need” for the Havana artist community, providing context for the mission’s work. This is followed by a walkthrough of Old Havana’s musical landmarks, grounding participants in the cultural environment they will be working within.
The group travels to Matanzas, a key center of Afro-Cuban musical traditions.
In the afternoon, participants work with Afro-Cuban legacy groups, particularly within rumba communities. Solar ovens are distributed to creative households where access to gas and electricity is most limited, supporting both daily needs and artistic continuity.
The day begins with a visit to a local music school in Matanzas, where participants deliver percussion supplies and solar-powered fans to improve practice conditions.
In the afternoon, the group helps establish or support a solar charging point within a community space, providing access to reliable energy for devices, lighting, and ongoing use.
The group returns to Havana.
Participants visit retired musicians from Cuba’s “Golden Age,” delivering nutritional aid and solar lighting to support individuals affected by extended blackouts. The day continues with a visit to a youth music program, where instrument repair kits are distributed to support ongoing music education.
The mission concludes with a private Creative Exchange held in a Havana courtyard.
Local musicians are compensated directly for their time and participation, creating a professional and respectful environment for collaboration. Participants connect directly with the artists and communities they have supported, while also evaluating the performance of previously delivered solar equipment.
Participants transfer to Havana airport (HAV) for departure.
MISSION FOCUS AREAS
Energy Access for Artists & Households
Participants deliver solar ovens and lighting solutions to musicians and families affected by unreliable electricity and extended blackouts.
Music Education Support
Distribution of percussion instruments, repair kits, and essential materials to music schools and youth programs in Havana and Matanzas.
Community-Based Solar Infrastructure
Establishment of small-scale solar charging points in community spaces to provide access to power for devices, lighting, and daily use.
Nutritional & Direct Aid Support
Delivery of nutritional packages and essential resources to legacy artists and families facing ongoing resource shortages.
How You Contribute to the Mission
1. Financial Contribution
A fixed contribution of $1,850 per person covers essential logistics, accommodations, and transportation.
• Tax Benefits: Any contribution exceeding the base $1,850 is tax-deductible.
• Impact: Additional funds are used to scale direct aid, ensuring a higher volume of supplies reach the community.
2. Carry-In System
Each participant is responsible for transporting at least one “Mission Bag” (checked luggage) containing:
• Solar equipment and components
• Music and educational materials
• Essential aid supplies for ground distribution
3. Active Participation
Participants engage in hands-on mission work through:
• Direct Distribution: Delivering aid supplies personally to those in need.
• Educational Workshops: Leading sessions for local students and educators.
• Local Collaboration: Working side-by-side with musicians, families, and community partners.
PRICING & WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Fixed Cost: $1,850.00 per person.
The “Carry-In” Requirement: Every participant manages one “Mission Bag” (checked) containing a GoSun Solar Oven and designated medical/music supplies.
Includes:
Does not include:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
This is a working mission. While there are cultural components, including music and community interaction, the primary focus is on participation, contribution, and collaboration with local communities.
The work is active but manageable. Participants should be comfortable with walking, carrying personal luggage, and participating in hands-on activities such as workshops and supply distribution. No specialized physical training is required.
Participants stay in private casas (guesthouses), which are the standard for high-quality travel in Cuba. These accommodations are selected for reliability, cleanliness, and consistent service.
Yes. The mission is structured to comply with authorized categories of travel to Cuba. All activities are organized in advance and align with permitted humanitarian and cultural engagement frameworks.
Each participant is responsible for bringing one checked bag containing mission supplies, including solar equipment, music materials, and basic aid items. Specific packing guidance is provided before departure to ensure everything is organized and compliant.
Yes. Direct interaction is a central part of the mission. Participants work alongside musicians, educators, and families throughout the week, and the mission concludes with a Creative Exchange that allows for meaningful connection and collaboration.