A video posted on Instagram on Saturday by Cuban content creator Leah Casals has mobilized dozens of people around the story of Eddy, a 64-year-old man who is raising his two children, aged nine and ten, alone in Trinidad, Cuba, under extreme poverty conditions and in a house at risk of collapsing.
The material, produced in collaboration with the projects El Trinitario de a Pie, Aneah Project, the agency Cubania Travel, and Jenny Peláez, documents the situation of this family. It is a call for citizen solidarity to improve their living conditions and to cover the medications needed by one of the children, who suffers from a chronic illness.
"At 64 years old, Eddy's life is not measured in breaks, but in sacrifices. While the city sleeps, he endures long night shifts so that his children do not go without bread," describes Leah Casals in the publication.
The family lives in an abandoned building that is at risk of collapsing. "A structure that is on the verge of falling, but they call it 'home' because it’s all they have," notes the content creator.
In the video, Eddy's own voice can be heard, expressing gratitude for the donations received and acknowledging the seriousness of his situation: "We have constantly been in a lot of trouble, both financially and spiritually, regarding illnesses and other matters."
The man refers to his young sick son, whom he describes as someone who requires expensive medication, a burden that becomes impossible to bear with the income he earns working at night.
Despite the difficulties, Eddy expresses faith in the solidarity of those around him: "I live with my little ones here, hoping every day that things can come as God wishes."
The campaign organizers are asking those who wish to help to share the video, comment to raise awareness of the case, and reach out via direct message if they want to contribute with donations.
Eddy's story reflects a widespread reality in Cuba, where single mothers and fathers are among the groups most affected by the crisis.
According to estimates from Human Rights Watch for 2025, 40% of the urban population in Cuba lives in poverty, and an adult needs the equivalent of 20 minimum monthly wages to afford a basic diet.
These types of citizen initiatives channeled through social media have multiplied in response to the Cuban state's inability to provide effective social assistance.
This month, the project Regalando Sonrisas documented the case of Yaquelín, a single mother with nine children and a cancer diagnosis, in a manner very similar to that of Eddy in Trinidad.
"We want those children to sleep peacefully, without fear of the cracks, and for this brave father to know that he is not alone in his fight," concludes Leah Casals in her post.
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