Cuba, 1961: 250,000 volunteers taught 700,000 people to read and write in one year. 100,000 of the teachers were under 18 years old. Over half were women. The Cuban Literacy Campaign of 1961 dramatically improved the nation’s literacy levels within one year by  teaching classes in the rural areas of the country. This campaign was also the impetus for a grassroots pedagogy promoted globally.

The Institute for Policy Studies invites you to a screening and discussion of the award winning film MAESTRA, that explores this story through the personal testimonies of the young women who went out to teach literacy in those rural communities across the island – and found themselves deeply transformed in the process.

In 2005, a documentary crew began collecting testimonies of women literacy teachers, exploring how this experience influenced their lives & sense of self, as well as the future of their nation. The result was this inspiring new film by Catherine Murphy, Maestra.

Following the sceening, Catherine Murphy will join us via Skype to participate in a Q & A/Comment session.