La Güinera, Cuba

Ten years ago a group of women from La Güinera, a neighbourhood on the outskirts of Havana, gathered to address the problems posed by their accelerating poverty. Their housing was miserable and their social problems acute. Despite an unyielding economic embargo on their country which has created tremendous material scarcity, the women decided they should, and could improve their neighbourhood. After much meditation and discussion, the women arrived at a consensus of what elements or "spaces" were essential for the well-being of a community. They proposed to erect 22 buildings, as well as a health clinic, a junior high school, special vocational schools, a primary school, and a laundry.

Organised into brigades of 33 women, 19 set about the actual construction of the buildings, while the remaining 14 proceeded to set up social services. While the government provided all the materials necessary, it has been the women's determination and persistence in battling a complex and sluggish bureaucracy which have ensured their availability so that the construction could march forward.

Although there are men integrated into the workforce, 70% of the effort is made by women, with women taking a leadership role in all the construction crews and in the conceptualisation of the community build up. Not only has La Güinera flourished in very lean times for Cuba, evidence of the integrity of the project can be seen in the cultural output -- theatre productions and musical festivals -- indications that basic needs are being met both materially and spiritually.