VIENNA, VA – Two sisters from Vienna have raised thousands of dollars to send food directly to families in Cuba through their humanitarian initiative, Plates Without Politics.
Suraiya and Safiya Farooqui, 17 and 11, were first driven by a desire to help a few relatives, Plates Without Politics said in a statement. But hearing more firsthand accounts about the hardships families on the island face spurred them to expand their efforts beyond their own kin.
According to the organization, they have raised more than $4,000 and helped provide groceries to more than 60 people. They hope to raise $10,000 in this wave of the effort. The money goes toward non-perishable food items that can be delivered locally.
The U.S. has maintained a trade embargo against Cuba since 1960, ever since the island of 10 million people chose to adopt a socialist government. The global superpower has imposed various sanctions on Cuba over the years, but an oil embargo imposed by Washington in January is creating extreme hardship.
Plates Without Politics notes on its website that “Cuba’s fuel embargo has made basic groceries nearly impossible to access for many families. With electricity outages, fresh food, produce and meat can’t be maintained.”
In an email, Suraiya told Patch that interacting with people struggling through the crisis in Cuba has only affirmed her belief that alleviating hunger should not be political. “[T]he situation at hand is truly impossible to justify,” she wrote. “A crisis of resources—people are cooking on fires on the sidewalk, kids are studying by the light of flashlights and clipboards. This leaves bodies and hopes malnourished. I've learned that hunger as a political weapon is inexcusable.”
As younger sister Safiya put it to Patch, “It really hurt me to see all these people who were in need of food, which is something I eat freely every day. It really hurt my heart.”
The response to Plates Without Politics, both from donors and from recipients in Cuba, has also taught the girls something, they say. “I've also been able to see the power of unity in the face of these difficult times,” Suraiya said. “Despite the hardships, with the contacts we were able to reach for fundraising, I saw the direct link between the work we were doing and the audio messages of gratitude and smiling photos we received from Cuba. Just a small effort was able to secure so much, and to be honest, I think a lot of us, when we read the news, feel a bit helpless in the face of it all. What this project has taught me is that we aren't, and I've seen it firsthand, how a small effort can go a long way.”
The girls stress that they are not sending money, but food. They’re hoping others will join their effort. Suraiya said, of course, what she hopes for is a political situation that doesn’t create a need for projects like theirs. But until then, they want to continue.
“The reality is that hunger in Cuba doesn't stop when we hit that goal, and even though our project may not be able to reach every person in Cuba who is struggling, I feel a responsibility to continue to push to get food to as many of those in need that we can help during this trying time," she said.
Suraiya and Safiya's mother, Maryam, says she and her husband are extremely proud of their daughters.
"Many young people think they can't effect change," she told Patch. "Maybe it's because youth only think of making huge changes. However, a small change is all that is needed to start something big. My hope is that Suraiya and Safiya continue to be problem solvers and that other youth are inspired to do the same. Our collective future depends on it."
The Plates Without Politics website has a breakdown of what their food baskets contain and statements from Cuban families. Information on how to donate can be found there.
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