A Cuban teenager and his grandparents received a home as a gift thanks to donations from thousands of followers of content creator Ronald Reyes (@r.reyes_13), who posted the emotional moment on TikTok this Wednesday, touching the hearts of hundreds of thousands of people in Cuba and abroad.
The nearly three-minute video shows the young man crying as he receives the keys to his new home, alongside his grandparents, who had been living in conditions described as terrible before the donation.
Along with the housing, the family received donated appliances from supporters: a blender, a coffee maker, and a pot. Another supporter also sent a food package.
"The moment everyone had been waiting for has arrived. Today, the teenager and his grandparents received this great gift," Ronald Reyes said in the video, visibly moved.
The TikToker acknowledged that the money raised among his followers was not enough to cover the total cost of the house, so he and his team put in additional funds from their own pockets. "The budget we had, we didn’t want to keep bothering people, so we put in more money than what had been collected to finally buy this little house," he explained.
An Instagram post related to the case summarized the impact of the donation with a straightforward phrase: "The child cries with joy because he has never had anything, but today, thanks to you, he finally has his home."
Reyes also announced that the assistance will not end with the delivery of the house. "Little by little, we will buy a small bed for the grandparents, a mattress, and other pots that are still needed," he said, indicating that they will continue to support the family gradually.
This case adds to a growing trend of digital solidarity in Cuba, where content creators on TikTok raise donations from their followers to assist vulnerable families. In July 2026, young Lauren Lotti fulfilled her dream of buying a house for her grandparents in Matanzas, selling the home where they lived in order to purchase a larger and more suitable one. In May of the same year, another Cuban TikToker used TikTok funds to distribute food and essential items to vulnerable elderly individuals.
This informal solidarity contrasts with the severe housing crisis that the island is experiencing. The housing drama of thousands of Cuban families is reflected in a deficit that exceeds 900,000 homes, while around 35% of the housing stock is in fair or poor condition. In 2025, the regime completed only 22% of its annual construction plan: 2,382 homes out of the 10,795 promised.
"My closest family is you," Ronald Reyes said as he addressed his followers at the end of the video, in a closing statement that encapsulates the spirit of a digital community that, through voluntary donations, addresses what the Cuban state has failed to resolve for decades.
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