A Cuban asked for help for an 11-year-old boy who, as he reported, wanders around areas of the city of Holguín offering to take out the trash from houses in exchange for some pesos to financially assist his mother.
Ernesto Almaguer Díaz recounted the case during a live broadcast on Facebook, after encountering the minor in the Vista Alegre neighborhood, specifically on Paz Street.
"It broke my heart because the boy goes from house to house asking to take out the trash so he can help his mom," he expressed.
According to Almaguer, the minor said that he is 11 years old and lives alone with his mother.
A known person also mentioned that the boy often moves around different areas of the city doing that kind of work.
Almaguer explained that the encounter affected him particularly because, at that moment, he did not have any money on him to help.
"I was overwhelmed by tremendous sadness and at that moment I didn't have a single peso in my pocket; if I had brought anything, I would have given it all," he assured.
For this reason, he called on the residents of Holguín to allow the minor to take out the trash if they see him doing so, and to provide him with any assistance within their means.
"That child is doing it to be able to feed himself and feed his mom and help," he affirmed.
Almaguer acknowledged that the minor shows a willingness to help his family, but emphasized that behind this behavior there is, in his opinion, a situation of profound need.
"It is a controversial situation because the child is developing tremendous values, he is helping his family, but when he is doing that it is because he has a very great need," he noted.
"Help him, please help him. To the extent that you can, a little cup of soda, a glass of water, 20 or 30 pesos to pick up a bit of trash, do it," he insisted.
The case reminded Almaguer of his own childhood. He recalled that at the age of 14, he dropped out of school and began working in brick factories, making bricks, removing ashes from the kilns, and carrying materials.
During the broadcast, he also harshly criticized the living conditions that many families in Cuba are facing and expressed sorrow that a child has to go out to find money to contribute to the household's support.
Children shouldn't be doing that, but we are living in a terrible country with a terrible government, he stated.
Later, he criticized the country's situation and the response of the authorities once again.
"Childhood in Cuba, the life of the elderly in Cuba, the life of people in general, is terrible, it is terrible. We are experiencing a situation of misery in a shitty country, with a government that is caring very little for its people," he stated.
Almaguer closed by reiterating his plea for solidarity for the minor and his mother: "I truly hope someone sees him out there and please helps him," he concluded.
Unfortunately, this scene is becoming increasingly common in the country, where children and teenagers find various ways to earn money to help their families.
In July, an 11-year-old boy in Camagüey was seen collecting aluminum cans early in the morning to help his mother.
The minor explained that he did it "to help my mom" and "to be able to eat."
Days later, in Sancti Spíritus, a boy named Emmanuel was out selling sweets prepared by his mother, amidst a public appeal for those who saw him to buy from him and thus support his family.
Also in August, two children aged 13 and 11 were photographed selling bread on the street to help their mothers, another case that reflected how the economic crisis is pushing minors to seek income to contribute to their households.
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