Throughout Cuba's history, youth have played a decisive role in shaping a sovereign nation with a fervent patriotic spirit.
Many have been part of this vanguard, among them Julio Antonio Mella, considered the one who did the most for Cuba despite his youth. In his relentless struggle to free the island from the imperialist yoke, the Federation of University Students (FEU) emerged on December 20, 1922. This organization, among other missions, sought to unite the student body as a significant social movement.
After Mella's death, another of the nation's most courageous young people, José Antonio Echeverría, took the reins of a vanguard FEU constantly engaged in struggle. Alongside Fidel Castro, the leading figure of the 26th of July Movement, they ignited the revolutionary flame that would later culminate in the triumph of January 1959.
The assault on the Presidential Palace, the creation of the Revolutionary Directorate, and the attack on the Moncada Barracks are not only memorable events in our history; they embody the dynamism of a youth that, under the leadership of a vanguard organization, has risen to the occasion and transformed setbacks into victories.
That is why the FEU, now a century old, remains vibrant in its time, without losing sight of its core mission: to represent its students and address their needs.
Today, they are seen in the fields, in classrooms, engaged in high-impact projects, and always with the same drive and determination to create and undertake. We extend our sincerest congratulations to its members on this day, which is undoubtedly a cause for celebration and, above all, a time of eternal homage to its founders and leaders.
