Water in Ciego de Ávila does not only flow through channels and dams; it flows, above all, through the veins of a collective that has made sacrifice its routine and excellence its banner.

At the Hydraulic Utilisation Company (EAHCA), success is not measured solely in millions of pesos or cubic metres of water controlled against drought. It is measured in the pride of its men and women, in that deep-rooted sense of belonging that transforms a simple workplace into a second home.

Behind the impressive feat of reaffirming National Vanguard status for over eighteen consecutive years, there beats an incalculable human force. It is the ingenuity of its innovators, who challenge material shortages with inventive solutions and technical ideas born from sleepless nights.

It is they who, with hands hardened by daily work, keep stations and reservoirs alive, proving that when commitment is genuine, there are no impossible tasks when it comes to advancing the province’s most ambitious projects.

This perfect gear of wills does not move blindly; it is guided by a steady hand. At the head of this battalion of creators is Gisela Rodríguez Santana, a woman who leads by example and governs through affection.

Gisela possesses that rare and virtuous quality of great leaders: the ability to demand with technical rigour and, at the same time, empathise with the soul of each of her workers. Her enormous heart allows her to listen to the workers’ concerns, understand the technicians’ fatigue, and then inspire everyone to go one step further. Under her direction, discipline is not imposed; it is cultivated through respect and human warmth.

There are plenty of reasons to celebrate, and this time, tradition is dressed in a deeper symbolism. The usual bustle of 10 August has fallen silent for a few days, awaiting a sacred moment. This 13 August, the beautiful and adorned hall of the company will break its quiet to fill with flowers, laughter and overflowing colour.

It will be a day of honour and glory. The tricolour flags will wave strongly in the hands of each worker, reflecting the gleam of victory on their faces. It is not just any day: the presentation of the National Vanguard status will coincide with the eternal tribute to the centenary of the Leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz.

In the heartbeat of this collective, the commitment to his legacy is made living water, demonstrating that the Avilanian hydraulic sector remains the immovable beacon of efficiency and feeling in Cuba.