The heartbreaking video of a Cuban boy who breaks down in tears upon receiving gift rackets: "It broke my heart."



A Cuban child cries upon receiving badminton rackets, reflecting the scarcity in Cuba. The video, shared by Puertas Abiertas, shows how a simple gift can be a luxury on the island.

Cuban boyPhoto © @puertas.abiertas / TikTok

A video circulating on social media has deeply moved thousands of users both inside and outside of Cuba due to the harsh scene it depicts.

In the images shared by the Puertas Abiertas foundation, a boy dressed in his school uniform can be seen, overwhelmed with tears as he embraces a woman who is giving him a modest gift: a set of badminton rackets.

The little one, visibly moved, cannot hold back tears upon receiving the gift, a gesture that for many children around the world would be something ordinary, but in today's Cuba represents a luxury.

The scene, filmed in a humble Cuban home, starkly reflects the reality faced by thousands of families on the island, where even the simplest items have become unattainable due to the economic crisis.

Users on social media described the moment as “beautiful and painful at the same time,” interpreting it as a demonstration of the deep impact of shortages and poverty on Cuban childhood.

"That child doesn't cry just out of happiness; he cries because he knows how difficult it is to have something like this in Cuba," wrote a user on TikTok.

The Puertas Abiertas Foundation, which has been sending humanitarian aid to the island for years, explained that its goal is to "bring hope to Cuban children through small gestures that remind them they are not alone."

Meanwhile, the video continues to spread across social media, sparking reflections on inequality, the lack of opportunities, and the dignity of the Cuban people who endure day by day amid scarcity.

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Yare Grau

Originally from Cuba, but living in Spain. I studied Social Communication at the University of Havana and later graduated in Audiovisual Communication from the University of Valencia. I am currently part of the CiberCuba team as an editor in the Entertainment section.