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A Cuban boy who was cleaning car windshields in Havana to survive received aid after his situation stirred emotions on social media.
The minor is named Cristian and is eight years old. Last month, his story came to light when a young woman shared photos of him working on the street to be able to bring some food for himself and his family.
Recently, former boxer Lino Tomasen, known as the Cuban Iron Man, visited his home alongside the singer known as Liz la diva, and they delivered a bag of food and a smaller one with clothes.
Lino, who has a project to help vulnerable people, also presented a thick bundle of money raised through contributions from his supporters.
Liz shared on her Instagram account that over the weekend they went to see him since he is allowed to leave his school on weekends. "Cristian is a Cuban boy with a noble soul; give yourselves the chance to talk to him and you will see the lovely heart he has," she said.
"To all those who help this boy, if you want to talk to him, support him, see him, or give a helping hand, you can contact me privately at 58780224. He can only be seen two weekends a month," he pointed out.
"You have to see the joy on that child's face when he sees us, how he shares with us what he's given. Doing this for someone in need is a dream that few achieve in life," he added.
In February, a young woman brought attention to Christian's case after hearing about him, so she searched for him for days until she found him.
"If one day you happen to be in La Palma or at Café Colón and 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 disregard him. Help him!" requested Rachel Realin at that time.
Rachel described him as a very affectionate and polite child, 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 are living alone because their dad is an alcoholic and is hardly ever home."
The young woman found him in the La Palma area, Arroyo Naranjo municipality. After meeting 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 while that money might have meant nothing to me, for him it meant so much, as that day he had something $$$ to bring food to the table," he remarked.
Rachel shared the message in the Facebook group "Food Delivery in Havana," where it went viral.
His aim was to clarify and raise awareness among people that not all children who beg for money on the street are sent by their parents, nor are they necessarily doing so to buy drugs.
"Not everyone is the same; some simply ask for money because they have nothing to eat. If anyone wishes to help him, please, when you pass by La Palma, look for him, as he is always there at the traffic light working," he clarified.
More and more children and adolescents are being forced to work to help their families survive due to poverty and circumstances of orphanhood amid the severe crisis that is shaking the country.
Last December, a man in Ciego de Ávila met two young siblings who sell guavas on the streets to help their mother. To do this, they travel eight kilometers every day after going to school in the morning.
Freelancer 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 a backpack and then give them back as gifts.
"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 heartbreaking scene unfolded at Havana's International Airport, where a boy selling candy ended up being taken away by the police.
The journalist Mario Vallejo, from Univisión 23, shared a video showing a young boy crying as an officer approached him. The boy was holding a paint bucket in which he surely had candies. Although he moved away quite a bit, he could not prevent the officers from putting him in the police car and taking him away.
Frequently Asked Questions about Child Labor and the Crisis in Cuba
Who is Cristian, the child who cleans windshields in Havana?
Cristian is an eight or nine-year-old Cuban boy who cleans windshields on the streets of Havana to help his family survive. He lives with his father, who is an alcoholic and is absent most of the time, as his mother abandoned him and his younger brother. Despite his situation, Cristian has been described as a loving and polite child.
How has the Cuban economic crisis impacted children?
The economic crisis in Cuba has led to an alarming increase in child labor. Many children are forced to work from a young age in activities such as selling food in the streets to help their families financially. This situation is exacerbated by the lack of support from the Cuban government for the most vulnerable families.
What kind of help has Cristian, the boy who cleans windshields, received?
Cristian received help from compassionate individuals such as former boxer Lino Tomasen and singer Liz La Diva, who provided him with food, clothing, and money. These actions are examples of community solidarity that emerges in response to the needs of the most vulnerable in Cuba.
How can people help children like Cristian in Cuba?
People can help children like Cristian through donations of food, clothing, and money. Contacting individuals such as Lino Tomasen or Liz La Diva, who organize assistance for these cases, can be an effective way to channel help. Additionally, it is important to raise awareness about the situation of these children to promote structural change in the country.
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