Young Cuban Boy Washing Car Windows in Havana Receives Support

A young Cuban boy who was cleaning car windows on the streets of Havana to make ends meet has received an outpouring of support after his story gained attention on social media. The child, named Cristian, is only eight years old. His situation first came to light last month when a young woman shared photos of him working on the streets to bring food home to his family.

Recently, former boxer Lino Tomasen, also known as the Cuban Iron Man, along with a singer known as Liz la Diva, visited Cristian's home. They delivered a bag of food and a smaller package of clothing to him. Lino, who runs a project aimed at helping vulnerable individuals, also handed over a significant amount of money collected from his supporters.

Liz shared on her Instagram account that they went to see Cristian over the weekend since he is allowed to leave his school during weekends. "Cristian is a Cuban boy with a kind soul. Engage with him, and you'll see his beautiful heart," she said. "To all those people supporting this child, if you want to talk to him, help him, see him, or offer any assistance, you can contact me privately at 58780224. He is only available two weekends a month," she noted.

"You have to witness the joy in that child's eyes when he sees us, how he shares with us what he receives. Doing this for someone in need is a dream few can achieve," she added.

In February, a young woman brought Cristian's case to light after hearing about him and searching for days until she found him. "If you ever find yourself near La Palma or Café Colón and come across this little boy asking for, say, $5, or offering to clean your car's windshield or your motorcycle's mirror... Please, don't ignore him. Help him!" pleaded Rachel Realin at the time.

Rachel described Cristian as a loving and polite child despite facing severe hardships. "His mother abandoned him and his younger brother when they were smaller, and they live with their father, but it's like living alone because their dad is an alcoholic and rarely home," she explained.

Rachel found Cristian in the La Palma area, Arroyo Naranjo municipality. After meeting him, she gave him 1,000 pesos and bought him a pack of straws. "I can't express the sadness and yet the satisfaction I felt seeing the joy on his face, because while that money might not mean much to me, it meant the world to him, as he had something to bring food to the table that day," she commented.

Rachel shared her message in the Facebook group "Food Delivery in Havana," where it went viral. Her goal was to raise awareness that not all children begging on the streets are sent by their parents or looking to buy drugs. "Not everyone is the same; some simply ask for money because they have nothing to eat. If anyone wishes to help him, please look for him when passing through La Palma, as he is usually at the traffic light working," she clarified.

The number of children and teenagers forced to work to support their families is increasing due to poverty and orphaned situations amidst the severe crisis in the country. Last December, a man in Ciego de Ávila met two siblings selling guavas on the streets to help their mom, traveling eight kilometers daily after school each morning.

Freelance journalist Guillermo Rodríguez Sánchez shared his encounter with the children on social media. Moved by their plight, he offered to buy all the guavas in their backpack and then gave them back. "And you... what were you doing at that age? Because I was always playing in the afternoons. How times have changed..." he lamented.

A few days earlier, a heartbreaking scene unfolded at Havana's International Airport, where a boy selling candies ended up in a police patrol car. Univision 23 journalist Mario Vallejo shared a video of the child crying as an officer approached him. The boy held a paint bucket, likely containing the candies. Despite moving away, he couldn't prevent the officers from placing him in the police car and taking him away.