The Latin American and Caribbean Continental Organization of Students (OCLAE) reaches its 55th anniversary this August 11th, with founding demands of the struggle for unity, education, and anti-imperialism, which are still fully valid.

Havana, Cuba.- If more than five decades ago peace, justice, rights for all, public and quality education were urgent for the student movement, those same demands vindicate the importance of the organization today.

In declarations to Prensa Latina, OCLAE President Leonel Pérez affirmed that the organization will continue to carry forward these banners and is attentive to the work of young people throughout the region. "We are living very effervescent moments in nations such as Chile, Colombia, Brazil, and students have played a key role in this," he said.

The OCLAE leader added that for its members it means a challenge that the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, is the founder of the organization, during the IV Latin American and Caribbean Congress of Students in Havana in 1966.

Referring to the activities in commemoration of the date, Perez pointed out that although they will be in the virtual modality, they will serve to "continue fostering the unity of the student movement, with a view to a 19th Latin American Students Congress, which we hope to hold in 2022."

OCLAE celebrates this anniversary with 36 member organizations from twenty countries and more than 100 million young people that involve not only the university student body but also the high school and postgraduate movement in the region. (RHC)