A Cuban father identified as Leandro Rodríguez posted a series of images in the Facebook group “Cuban Warrior Mothers 2” that document the conditions in which his son lives, creating a visual testimony that has shaken thousands of people.
Rodríguez shared a photo of his son eating on the porch of their home, a plate with rice and little else: "Yes, that's my son, they are ruining his childhood... Cuba hurts in the soul and beyond," he said.
"A child should not develop or grow up under these conditions, lacking the most basic necessities for healthy growth: 'food and rest.' The worst part is that these are the realities faced by thousands of families in Cuba. Children are the most affected, and our government seems not to care, but one day, they will pay for all the suffering they have caused the people," added this father in a powerful message that captures the sentiments of many Cubans.
In a previous post, showing his son sleeping after a power outage, this father sent a direct message to the Cuban leaders: "It hurts to see what our beautiful island has become, it hurts for the elderly, it hurts for the pregnant women, in short, it hurts for so many things, but what hurts the most is for our children."
"After such a stormy night, with almost no rest and swarms of mosquitoes around, when this little boy wakes up with all the innocence typical of a 5-year-old, the first question he asks me is: 'Dad, can I watch cartoons?' And while I wipe away tears from my eyes, trying to appear strong in front of him so he won’t see me cry, I say: 'My prince, let's play with balls or take the stroller out instead,' to which he mischievously replies: 'YYYYYEEEEES!!!!'" This father recounted the daily struggle faced by many like him.
Rodríguez held the Cuban regime responsible for his son's current situation.
"Children are not to be played with... you have no idea what it's like to struggle. You enjoy all kinds of privileges and comforts without any restrictions; you eat what you want, travel by car, by plane, and so on, but the average Cuban does not. I don't know why you cling to something that slipped through your fingers 67 years ago; just pass the ball already. No empire is eternal, and its end will come," he concluded.
"Madres Cubanas Luchadoras 2" is a digital space where Cuban families—primarily mothers—document the scarcity of food, power outages, the lack of infant formula, and the material hardship they face daily.
Leandro Rodríguez's posts add to a wave of similar testimonies that have proliferated in 2026, amidst the worst economic and humanitarian crisis the island has faced in decades.
The case of Leandro Rodríguez is not the only one that has touched the Cuban online community in recent weeks. A Cuban father, 52 years old, asked for help to obtain powdered milk for his three daughters and pleaded for his face to be hidden out of fear of retribution, fearing he might be jailed. "All I want is for someone to help me with some packets of milk for my family. I have three little girls," he said in front of the cameras.
The Cuban Observatory of Conflicts recorded 71 reports of child labor and begging in 2025 alone, with new cases documented this year.
Among the images shared in the group is also an illustration with the hashtag #ConMisHijosNoTeMetas, the motto of the movement of Cuban parents who oppose state interference in the upbringing of their children, which has gained traction as an expression of civil resistance against the regime.
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