Generation Y Blogger Yoani Sanchez Visits VOA

WASHINGTON, D.C. —  “I’ve dreamt many times of meeting the faces behind the voices that I have come to recognize,” said Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez during a visit to Voice of America Wednesday morning. “I am finally here.”

An 80-day world tour brought Sanchez to Washington March 19 and 20, as part of her first-ever visit to the United States. During her visit she met with senior VOA and International Broadcasting Bureau executives, as well as editors from the Latin America division, who welcomed her with open arms.

“As a journalist for over 30 years, I watched the fall of communism in many countries around the world,” Director David Ensor told Sanchez, “You are a hero for many around the world, including myself.”

An interview with the dissident blogger will air Friday morning on the VOA Noticias television program Foro Interamericano.

Sanchez’s renowned blog, Generation Y, reaches a global audience in 18 languages, and is a platform for Sanchez to shine a critical spotlight on Cuba for the rest of the world. She has long worked with Voice of America and Radio and TV Martí, but today’s visit marked her first time meeting many of the journalists she has come to know through phone conversations.

“Meeting Yoani, after speaking with her for so many years, was such a pleasure,” said Clara Dominguez, Supervisory Managing Editor of the Latin America division. “It was an honor to welcome her to VOA.”

“I’ve interviewed Yoani many times, but this was my first time meeting her face-to-face,” said VOA Noticias Multimedia Managing Editor Iscar Blanco. “Yoani has reminded me through the years that the best way to help Cubans is to report in-depth on social and political issues beyond Castro, beyond what Cuba has come to represent. She’s an inspiring person.”