Twelve-year-old Jacson was spotted this Sunday at Parque Céspedes in Santiago de Cuba, barefoot and gazing longingly at ice creams he could not afford. He wasn’t begging. He was merely watching in silence. His quiet presence, full of dignity, deeply moved writer and activist Yasser Sosa Tamayo, who shared Jacson's story on Facebook to seek assistance.
"He had a clean soul and dirty feet," wrote Sosa Tamayo, recounting his brief encounter with the boy under the scorching midday sun, as Jacson sat on a step by the Cathedral. Jacson did not ask for alms. He simply watched other children with new shoes, laughter, and ice creams in hand. In his gaze, Sosa noted the patience of someone who had learned to endure from a young age.
The boy treasures his only pair of shoes like a relic, wearing them only to school to keep them from wearing out. He lives with his ill grandmother and two younger siblings, harboring a deep desire to help his family avoid hunger.
"He spoke to me with the calmness of someone who knows that sadness often masquerades as a smile," Sosa recounted, mentioning how he bought Jacson some treats and promised to return on Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the same spot. "Are you really going to help me, uncle?" the boy asked. "Yes, Jacson. I swear," Sosa replied.
The writer appealed for support to fulfill his promise, asking for donations of clothes, shoes, a backpack, school supplies, or any gesture that might lighten Jacson's heavy burdens. "A child like this should learn to laugh before learning to endure," Sosa wrote. "Because Jacson should not remain barefoot while the world keeps moving."
Children Facing Dire Conditions in Cuba
Jacson's story is not unique but part of a broader, often unspoken reality in Cuba, where thousands of children face extreme deprivation without an effective state safety net. Just days ago, a Cuban mother publicly pleaded for help for her sick daughter, stating that "faith is all I have left" amidst a lack of medication and healthcare.
Her plea laid bare a collapsed system that forces families to reveal their personal struggles on social media to hope for minimal aid. The institutional neglect is particularly severe in Santiago de Cuba, where several children were captured living amidst crumbling walls, lacking access to food and decent clothing.
The Urgency of Social Intervention
In those instances, neighbors and activists demanded urgent intervention, which never came. The official response was silence. Another recent case highlighted how the regime's inaction worsens child poverty. A mother, also in eastern Cuba, was asking for clothing and food for her young children, one of whom has developmental delays.
They lacked even mattresses to sleep on, and despite the pleas for help, there was no governmental response, only donations from ordinary citizens. The situation is even more dire when disability compounds poverty. In Holguín, families of two children with cerebral palsy and elderly caregivers begged for assistance, unable to afford treatments and food.
Their home, lacking sanitary conditions and basic resources, represents another face of the real Cuba, starkly different from the image portrayed by official media.
Addressing Child Poverty in Cuba
What challenges do children in Cuba face?
Children in Cuba often face severe deprivation, including lack of food, clothing, and access to education, compounded by a collapsed healthcare system.
How are families in Cuba seeking help?
Families are increasingly turning to social media to share their struggles and seek assistance from the public due to the lack of government support.
What role do activists play in supporting Cuban children?
Activists like Yasser Sosa Tamayo help bring attention to the plight of children by sharing their stories and mobilizing support from the community.