We will never give up continuing our dream which has already become the dream of dozens of children.
We will never give up continuing our dream
which has already become the dream
of dozens of children.
RECORDING SESSION AT EGREM STUDIOS
LITERATURE WORKSHOP WITH INSTRUCTOR YALECSA MONTALVO
CRAFT WORKSHOP WITH PROFESSOR DAGOBERTO HEN
CORAZON DE LOS HOYOS is a community project dedicated to the rescue of cultural traditions, values and the spiritual well-being of the children of the Los Hoyos neighborhood.
The project arose thanks to the vision of two childhood friends Lazaro Bandera Malet and Oscar A Ruiz Hernandez. Lazaro is a music professor and the director of the emblematic Conga de Los Hoyos in Santiago de Cuba. Oscar Ruiz is a martial arts instructor.
Together, they identified a serious problem and did not take long to act.
Los Hoyos is one of the poorest neighborhoods in Santiago de Cuba, where average monthly wages often hover around $10-15 USD. The neighborhood’s aging infrastructure contributes to waterborne diseases due to inadequate sanitation. Access to healthcare, while universally provided by the state, is often hampered by shortages of medicines and medical supplies, exacerbating many health issues.
A deep economic crisis has plunged Cuba into the most extreme poverty. There is also a dizzying increase in a generational gap, which directly affects the natural transferring of cultural traditions. The most competent professionals are constantly leaving Cuba, while brilliant teachers are also seeking to escape, leaving an educational void that is already making mediocrity and apathy notable. Lazaro and Oscar have decided to stay.
GENESIS
Lazaro has three wonderful eleven year old boys, yes they are triplets, identical!
Yankiel, Ruben and Lazaro were his inspiration for this dream. He started teaching them the first drum beats when they were about two years old and continued with discipline, patience and consistency teaching them everything he could at that tender age. Eventually, Lazaro understood the historical moment and the need to do something not only for his triplets but for their little friends as well.
In 2018 Corazon de los Hoyos was founded with a group of eight boys by Lazaro and Oscar.
GOAL
Our goal is to promote the appreciation of the arts to children and adolescents, and instruct them in cultural traditions. While encouraging the achievement of a high cultural and professional level, we also encourage interest in academic studies in order to avoid school dropouts, involvement in gangs and provide a safe haven from dysfunctional home environments.
Unfortunately, with COVID-19, the dreams of Lazaro, Oscar and dozens of children and their parents had to go on a long pause.
For a couple of years it was not possible to reactivate this noble project due to the lack of support, resources and financing. But recently, with the help of the community and some fans of the film “Lazaro and the Shark” Lazaro has been able to continue his dream that has already become the dream of dozens of children, families and the community of Los Hoyos.
WHERE WE ARE
Right now, we have 33 children, all from the Los Hoyos neighborhood. Ranging from 6 years old to 14 years of age, twenty two boys and eleven girls.
WHO WE ARE
LAZARO BANDERA MALET
Director / Founder
SISI CARIDAD BELL REYES
Producer / Dance Instructor
YALECSA MONTALVO O’REILLY
Producer / Instructor
CALL
TO
ACTION
If you would like to learn about how to help Lazaro and Corazon de los Hoyos, please reach out to us through our contact form or directly via email at: