In Baracoa, Guantánamo, a group of children have become the stars of a viral video. Using their own hands, they repurposed a neglected public fountain near the seawall into a makeshift pool, celebrating their success to the beat of "El Tubazo," an old hit by Chacal & Yakarta.
Shared on Instagram by Yan Andres Rdz, the video has garnered over 22,000 likes, accompanied by the simple yet telling caption: "We did it."
The footage captures the youngsters splashing around in a circular fountain adorned with a blue and white dolphin statue that features a large hole. The scene is set against a mosaic stone floor with the sea as a backdrop.
The endeavor began on July 23 when Yan Andrés started chronicling the project on his profile. Armed with brooms, the children arrived to sweep away the accumulated dirt and debris from the long-unused facility.
Yan Andres clarified in the comments: "It's not a pool, it's a non-functional fountain, but we're cleaning it up to use as a pool."
By the third day, rain filled the fountain with water. The children drained it again to continue cleaning before their final celebration. Earlier videos in the series also went viral, one surpassing 18,000 likes and another 11,000.
While this may appear to be a delightful story of childhood joy, it starkly reveals the neglect by the state.
For decades, the Cuban regime has failed to maintain public recreational spaces, leaving citizens—including children—to fend for themselves.
In another instance, children in Pinar del Río turned a flooded pothole into a pool in April, with images spreading widely.
Public Spaces in Disrepair Across Cuba
The state of parks and public pools in Cuba in 2026 is dire.
In Holguín, the El Mambisito park has missing roofs and stolen benches, while the Japanese Park in Camagüey suffers from stagnant pool water and broken attractions.
Havana's former Coney Island has been likened to Chernobyl due to its severe deterioration.
Though there are private alternatives, they remain out of reach for most Cuban families. A water park in Ciego de Ávila charges 500 pesos for just 30 minutes of children's swimming.
Taking a family to Jalisko Park in Vedado would cost approximately 4,000 pesos, more than half of the average monthly salary of 6,830 pesos.
Neglect and Environmental Concerns in Baracoa
The area around the fountain in Baracoa's seawall has long been a victim of institutional neglect. In April 2023, there was a report of liquid waste dumping in the same public space.
Additionally, this month, a wave of sargassum hit the city's beaches, prompting a health alert.
While the government remains silent, the children of Baracoa rejoice to the tune of "El Tubazo," creating the summer refuge that the state failed to provide.
Understanding the State of Public Amenities in Cuba
Why did the children in Baracoa repurpose a fountain?
The children transformed the abandoned fountain into a pool due to the lack of maintained public recreational spaces, highlighting the state's neglect.
What does the viral video from Baracoa signify?
The video underscores the resilience and resourcefulness of Cuban citizens, especially children, in the face of governmental neglect.
How are Cuban families affected by the lack of public amenities?
The inadequate state of public amenities forces families to seek expensive private alternatives, which are often unaffordable given the average income.