A couple of young Cubans, Alfredo (@alfre_oficial99) and Dermita (@dermita_oficial), posted on TikTok a video showing how they prepare and distribute food to people living on the streets of Cuba, in a gesture of solidarity that combines humanity, faith, and an open critique of the regime.
From the very first second, Alfredo makes the purpose clear: the food is intended for those little ones who live on the streets.
While Alfredo went out to buy the missing ingredients, Dermita took charge of the kitchen: she shredded the chicken, prepared the salad, added seasonings, and covered the pot with aluminum foil.
As happens daily on the island, the power outages soon interrupted the work. Dermita recounted it casually: "the power went out" and they had to prepare everything on the charcoal, although she admitted that food cooked over charcoal is much more delicious.
Once the food was ready, Alfredo took charge of packing the meals while Dermita helped him, before heading out to distribute them among those who sleep on the streets. "Delicious is an understatement; I felt like eating the whole pot," Alfredo joked in the video.
The gesture was not limited to humanitarian efforts. The video features a song that includes direct political criticism of the Cuban government, with lines denouncing repression, mandatory military service, and the persecution of the Damas de Blanco: "our children in military service making a mess while yours are partying eating lobster."
Dermita, for its part, expressed gratitude for the support from those who follow them on social media: "I want to thank you for giving us the opportunity to share with others the little we have." The video description is dedicated to all Cubans, with a message of blessing and gratitude.
This initiative aligns with a growing trend among young Cubans using TikTok to raise awareness of poverty and take action against it. Anita, a young mother from Matanzas, distributed spaghetti, sausages, and corn rice to the elderly on the streets in April 2025, with videos that exceeded half a million views. In March 2026, the activist Noly Blak gave away 65,000 pesos to beggars, the elderly, and people with disabilities in Holguín. Religious groups from Santa Clara and Havana have also organized dinners and distributed blankets for homeless individuals.
All of this is happening in the context of an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. According to data from 2025, 89% of Cubans live in extreme poverty and seven out of ten have stopped having breakfast, lunch, or dinner due to a lack of money or shortages. The cost of living has reached 40,000 pesos per month compared to an average salary of only about 6,000 pesos. UNICEF reports that one-tenth of Cuban children suffer from severe food insecurity.
While citizens like Alfredo and Dermita share what little they have, the Cuban government prepared a plan in 2024 to remove the homeless from the streets, a measure that contrasts with the spontaneous solidarity demonstrated by an increasing number of young Cubans on social media.
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