The humanitarian project Aliento de Vida, led by Yankiel Fernández, confirmed this Sunday that the Sponsorship Program of this civil initiative currently benefits more than 45 children and young people with cerebral palsy in Cuba, from the east to the west of the country.
In the most recent distribution, families received food and cash transfers totaling 72,000 Cuban pesos, with amounts of 2,000 and 3,000 pesos per mother.
The delivered products included meat, eggs, diapers, baby wipes, rice, noodles, juices, and humanitarian rice, in what the images depict as a collection and distribution point in humble conditions, detailed Fernandez on his Facebook profile.
"We have been silent but working hard, and above all, we continue to carry Aliento de Vida. We do not stop. On the contrary, each day we grow stronger," the activist emphasized while announcing the results of the program.
The founder of the solidarity project did not hide the extent of the neglect that these families face. "The indifference and abandonment towards these children is very significant and some are forgotten," he noted, while emphasizing that private solidarity addresses needs that the Cuban state does not guarantee.
The growth of the project in the last two years is remarkable. In July 2024, the program was serving 12 children with cerebral palsy with plans to expand to 35 beneficiaries between Havana and Pinar del Río.
By this July of this year, the number has already surpassed 45, reflecting both the expansion of the project and the depth of the need.
The operating model is based on sponsors who make periodic contributions to ensure a basic basket for each family. The network of donors includes almost all states in the United States, as well as Germany, Spain, and Colombia.
The work of the project is especially relevant in a context where the Minister of Public Health, José Ángel Portal Miranda, admitted in 2025 before the National Assembly that Cuba had only 30% of the basic medicine supply.
The shortage of anticonvulsants like Clobazam directly impacts children with cerebral palsy, and in November 2025, the girl Nabila passed away, a child with that condition, partly due to the lack of access to that medication.
Families of the minor beneficiaries expressed their gratitude in the comments of the post. "Infinite thanks to this great project Aliento de Vida, which inspires many people from east to west. The collaborators who give us oxygen and strength every day for the health and well-being of our children with cerebral palsy," wrote a grateful mother.
Another family member highlighted the direct impact on quality of life: "Thanks to the sponsors who make our quality of life better, thank you for the immense love you have for our children."
A third voice summarized the collective sentiment of the families: "What they do for the happiness, health, and peace of mind of the children and parents is priceless."
Aliento de Vida has also responded to other emergencies on the island. In October 2025, it launched a campaign to collect medications for patients suffering from dengue and chikungunya, and organized assistance for the eastern part of the country following Hurricane Melissa.
The project, which celebrated a decade of work in August 2025, has progressively expanded its reach to also assist vulnerable elderly individuals and families living in extreme poverty.
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