A Cuban residing abroad organized the delivery of backpacks for her son's entire classroom in Cuba and shared the moment in an emotional video posted on TikTok on the first day of the 2026-2027 school year, which was on September 1st.
The user @esperanzaleydi, known as "Chinita," recorded the reactions of the little ones upon receiving their backpacks and described the scene with words that resonated with thousands of Cubans: "Today my heart is bursting with emotion."
"There are things that are normal for many children, but for other children in Cuba, they are just a dream," he explained in the video. "I can't express how happy it made me to see those little faces filled with hope."
The author openly acknowledged the reality that drives this type of gesture: "In Cuba, the economic situation makes it very difficult for many families to obtain a backpack, school supplies, and everything necessary for their children to start the school year."
But beyond the donation, "Chinita" wanted the moment to hold a deeper significance for her own son: "I want him to learn from a young age that sharing doesn't make us have less; it makes us better people; that he should never feel superior to anyone for having something that others do not; that he learns to be humble, grateful, and above all, to help whenever he has the opportunity to do so."
The video garnered over 9,200 views, 1,115 "likes," and 175 comments, reflecting the emotional impact it had on the Cuban community on social media.
The gesture comes amid one of the most challenging school year starts in recent years. The beginning of the 2026-2027 school year was marked by blackouts that affected 70% of the country, a shortage of teachers, lack of books, and issues with school meals.
This reality has driven a growing trend among Cubans abroad: Cuban mothers have sought help on social media due to the lack of school uniforms, while other compatriots from various countries purchase school supplies at low-cost stores and donate them directly to the island, documenting the gesture on TikTok.
The PCC described the start of the school year as "another act of heroism", a phrase that contrasts with the image of children receiving a backpack as if it were the greatest gift in the world.
"Today they were backpacks, but for me they were much more than that," concluded "Chinita" in her video. "They were smiles, dreams, and a small message of hope."
Filed under: