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A Cuban boy who washes car windshields in Havana to survive has sparked outrage on social media.
The minor is named Cristian and is eight or nine years old; he does not go to school because he has to leave daily to work early in order to bring some food for himself and his little brother.
"If one day you happen to be in La Palma or at Café Colón and you come across this little boy asking you for, I don't know, $5, or asking if he can clean the windshield of your car or the mirror of your motorcycle... Please, don't look down on him. Help him!" pleaded Rachel Realin, a young woman who had heard about the boy and searched for him for days until she found him.
Rachel described him as a very affectionate and polite boy, despite having an extremely difficult living situation.
"His mother abandoned him and his little brother when they were younger, and they live with their father, but it’s as if they lived alone because their dad is an alcoholic and most of the time he’s never home," he detailed.
The young woman met him last Friday in the La Palma area of Arroyo Naranjo municipality. After getting to know him, she gave him 1,000 pesos and bought him a pack of straws.
"I can't describe the sadness but at the same time the satisfaction I felt when I saw the joy on his little face, because for me that money might have been nothing, but for him it was everything, since that day he had something $$$ to bring food to the table," she commented.
Rachel shared the message in the group Facebook "Food Delivery in Havana", where it has gone viral.
Its goal is to make it clear and raise awareness among people that not all children who ask for money on the streets are sent by their parents, nor are they doing so to buy drugs.
"Not everyone is the same; some simply ask for money because they have nothing to eat. If anyone wants to help him, please look for him when you pass through La Palma, as he is always there working at the traffic light," he clarified.
An increasing number of children and adolescents are being forced to work to help their families survive, due to poverty and situations of orphanhood amidst the severe crisis the country is facing.
In December of last year, a man in Ciego de Ávila met two siblings who sell guavas on the streets to help their mother, and to do this, they travel eight kilometers every day after going to school in the morning.
The freelance Guillermo Rodríguez Sánchez shared on his social media about his encounter with the children. Moved by their situation, he offered to buy all the guavas from one of their backpacks and then give them back as a gift.
"And you... what were you doing at that age? Because I was always playing in the afternoons. How times have changed..." lamented the reporter.
A few days earlier, a heart-wrenching scene occurred at the José Martí International Airport in Havana, where a child selling candies ended up in a patrol car.
The journalist Mario Vallejo from Univisión 23 shared a video showing a boy crying as he saw an officer approaching him. The boy was holding a paint bucket in which he likely had candies. Even though he moved away quite a bit, he could not prevent the agents from putting him in the police car and taking him away.
Frequently Asked Questions About Child Labor and the Situation of Children in Cuba
Why are there children working on the streets of Cuba?
Despite legal prohibitions, the deep economic crisis in Cuba forces many families to allow their children to work to survive. Economic necessity is the main factor driving minors to engage in labor activities on the streets.
What types of jobs do Cuban children do in the streets?
Children in Cuba often sell products such as candies, tamales, avocados, and other items on the streets. These activities expose them to risks and hazardous working conditions, interfering with their education and personal development.
How does child labor affect the education of children in Cuba?
Child labor significantly affects children's education, as many miss classes or arrive late due to their work obligations. This issue has even been acknowledged by the state-run press, impacting the academic performance of minors.
What are Cuban citizens doing to help child workers?
Citizens and activists in Cuba are organizing solidarity actions, such as donations of food, clothing, and bicycles, to relieve the burdens of minors and enhance their quality of life. These initiatives aim to provide support and create community assistance networks.
What responsibility does the Cuban government have in the rise of child labor?
Although the Cuban government prohibits child labor, the lack of economic support and the economic crisis contribute to the persistence of this issue. The regime has been criticized for not taking responsibility and blaming families for the situation without providing effective solutions.
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