This post was written by Hatchet reporter Emily Cirillo

The University’s Cuban-American student organization hosted a discussion Thursday about the future of Cuban leadership, calling for youth activism in the ailing Communist nation.

The Cuban American Student Association, which was founded this spring, screened a documentary produced by alumnus George Montalvan.

“Grandchildren of the Cuban Revolution,” which was filmed undercover in the country with strict media limits, featured interviews from Cuban young people seeking to chart a new political course for their country’s future.

The hour-long film includes prominent Cuban bloggers and pop culture figures, depicting harsh life under the Communist rule.

Graduate student Aleksey Sanchez said he founded the organization because he felt like Cuba wasn’t part of enough conversations at GW.

“I wanted to create it to share our culture and have people learn about Cuba not just from a political standpoint,” Sanchez said.

After the screening, the film’s executive producer Montalvan spoke to students about the need for youth to step up and replace the country’s aging political leaders.

“The government will be in flux. The old men running the government will start dying out,” Montalvan said, adding that the problem will intensify in the next few years.

The student organization plans to host a collection for medical supplies and a community service project with the District minority youth in the near future.

This post was updated on April 6, 2012 to reflect the following:
Due to an editing error, The Hatchet incorrectly refereed to Aleksey Sanchez as a female.