A Cuban teenager and his grandparents received a house as a gift thanks to donations from thousands of followers of content creator Ronald Reyes (@r.reyes_13), who shared 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 were living in what has been described as terrible conditions 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. It became possible today for the teenager and his grandparents to receive this great gift," Ronald Reyes said in the video, clearly emotional.
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 contributed additional funds from their own pockets. "We didn’t want to keep bothering people with the budget we had, 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 emotion because he has never had anything, but today, thanks to you, he finally has a home."
Reyes also announced that the assistance does not end with the house delivery. "Little by little, we will buy a bed for the grandparents, a small mattress, and other pots that are needed," he said, and added 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 help vulnerable families. In July 2026, young Lauren Lotti fulfilled her dream of buying a house for her grandparents in Matanzas, selling the home they lived in to acquire a larger and more suitable one. In May of the same year, another Cuban TikToker used TikTok money to distribute food and essential items to vulnerable elderly people.
This informal solidarity contrasts sharply with the severe housing crisis facing the island. The housing drama affecting thousands of Cuban families is reflected in a deficit of over 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 promised 10,795.
"The closest family I have is you all," said Ronald Reyes as he addressed his followers at the end of the video, in a closing that encapsulates the spirit of a digital community that fills the gaps left unresolved by the Cuban state for decades through voluntary donations.
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