HAVANA, Cuba.- The Friends of Cuba solidarity organization received the Nie Pleuje award by the Workers Party of the province of Western Flanders in recognition of its outstanding humanitarian work.

The award is granted every year by the PVDA to a personality, event or institution that had carried out a relevant job in the field of solidarity and which had had important results in the social sphere.

A report by Prensa Latina says the phrase “nie pleuje” is commonly heard in Flanders and it can be translated as a call to not dismay or to face challenges with greater strength or enthusiasm.

“Friends of Cuba” was founded in 1969 by Belgians of different social origins. Every year they carry out activities to collect funds and materials that are later employed by the organization members in Cuba projects.

As part of the Carlos Habre brigade, their activities in Cuba consist mostly of improving the state of public facilities such as hospitals, policlinics and homes for the elderly.

In 2009, the brigade restored an old folk’s home in the municipality of Santiago de Las Vegas, in Havana. The following year, they collected funds to buy materials needed to restore another one in Pinar del Rio.

Marc Wuytack, president of the organization in Gante, the forth major city of Belgium, said that with the collaboration of Cuban institutions, they have sent more than 20 containers with building materials to the island.