A Cuban nun, known as Sister Odita, from the congregation of the Sisters of the Love of God, emotionally broke down in front of the cameras while expressing her gratitude for the food donations to a daycare that serves 80 children from vulnerable families in Old Havana.
The testimony was shared by the user of Instagram Álvaro Cuadrado in collaboration with the humanitarian organization Fundación Hambre Cero. The statements made by the Cuban nun generated a wave of messages of solidarity.
"I want to thank you on behalf of all the families of the children at the daycare, and on behalf of all the people in Cuba who are eating today thanks to you," the nun expressed, tears in her eyes and her voice trembling.
"The daily challenge is finding what is needed to cook in Cuba. We care for a total of 80 children from the Old Havana area, from vulnerable families facing serious economic difficulties, often being children of single mothers. The goal is to assist them with their care, nutrition, and also their education," said Odita.
"In Cuba, the issue of food is quite serious due to the economic, political, and social situation the country is facing. There is a great need to support families because of the high inflation and food shortages."
Odita was moved for a very sensitive and spiritual reason amidst the abandonment that millions of Cubans endure: "Knowing that there are people who still care about us."
"Behind the scenes, we can cry and worry, but at seven-thirty in the morning, when that door opens, the children who enter here should not find problems or needs, but joy. We want them to feel that there are people ready to welcome them, to feel comfortable in this house, and that at least during the eight hours they are here, they can disconnect from the reality that exists outside that door."
The nursery, located at 60 Muralla Street in Old Havana, is part of a support network driven by religious and humanitarian organizations that seek to alleviate the severe food crisis facing Cuba, due to the state's inability to ensure basic nourishment for its population.
The scene reflects an increasingly common reality on the island, where one in ten children suffers from severe food insecurity, according to recent data highlighting the deterioration of living conditions in the country.
Surveys and testimonies collected in recent months confirm that 80% of Cubans believe the current situation is worse than during the Special Period, making the present crisis the most severe in decades.
Filed under: