A gesture of solidarity by Nicaraguan influencer Chino Moreno Nica moved thousands of people on TikTok after he posted a video in which he helps a Cuban family that sells street food in Nicaragua, accompanied by the text: "Helping our Cuban brothers. It broke my heart."
In the images, the tiktoker approaches the stall of a woman named Lady, who, along with her mother, husband, and brother-in-law, sells bread with roast pork, rice pudding, and fresh juices from seven in the morning until they run out of stock.
"We started selling in May, as street vendors. We began here, then went to work at the port, and returned again," Lady recounted to the content creator.
Chino Moreno Nica decided to buy all the available merchandise at the stand —valued at 600 córdobas— and handed Lady a total of 1,500 córdobas, split between the payment for his housing and capital to reinvest in the business.
The Cuban woman's reaction was immediate and filled with emotion: "It was almost what we needed to complete the payment for the house," she said through tears, adding that she was just 500 pesos short to fulfill that commitment.
The TikToker replied, "He uses that for the payment of his house and this to reinvest."
The video garnered over 200,000 views and thousands of comments, including many messages of solidarity with the Cuban vendor and gratitude to the creator for helping her.
"Our Cuban brothers are very proactive," wrote one user, who wished blessings for both. Another commenter celebrated both the business and the gesture of solidarity: "Blessings for that venture of our brothers from Cuba and for the young Nica for his kindness."
A user who identified as Mexican rejected the racist comments against Cuban emigrants and sent them a hug, highlighting their daily efforts to get ahead.
Another individual, identified as "El CUBANO__NICA," shared that he has a barbershop in Nicaragua and expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome he received: "Every single day, I thank God and all the Nicas for the tremendous support they have given me, because in the beginning, it was tough for me, and I’m still in the fight. Thank you for supporting us."
Emotion was also present. "Even I cried with that video. [...] It’s a struggle to want to bring a little money home, especially for them, who are far from their homeland," expressed a user. The creator, Chino Moreno Nica, responded: "Many of us suffer far from our homes."
In addition to thanking everyone for their messages, the TikToker asked for solidarity to be shown through support for the business: "Don't forget to share the video so that more people can see it and make a purchase."
Chino Moreno Nica is a content creator who regularly engages in making charitable gestures towards street vendors and people in vulnerable situations, a format that has gained enormous popularity on TikTok across Latin America.
The story of Lady reflects a widespread reality among Cubans who remain in Nicaragua. Since the government of Daniel Ortega eliminated the visa requirement for Cuban citizens in November 2021, the country became a major migration corridor to the United States. When Nicaragua reinstated the consular visa requirement in February 2026, many Cubans who were already in the country chose to stay and set up small food businesses on the streets of Managua.
The bread with lechon, the desserts, and Cuban beverages have become a survival bet for Cuban families in Nicaragua who, like Lady and her family, set out every morning to make a living far from their homeland.
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