A mother from the Cacocum municipality in Holguín, who made a heartfelt plea for food for her children after Hurricane Melissa, has been gifted a brand-new home thanks to the generosity of thousands of Cubans both inside and outside the country. This effort was orchestrated by activist Noly Blak through his project.
Valued at $6,000, the home was provided as part of the 22nd reconstruction initiative by the solidarity project "Homes for Cuba," spearheaded by the Holguín-based influencer and activist.
"Thanks to God and all of you. We did this together," Blak expressed while handing over the keys to the house in a video that quickly went viral on social media.
The story of this mother surfaced weeks ago when a video shared by the activist revealed her desperation after losing everything to Hurricane Melissa.
"I don't want anything, all I want is food for the children," the young mother said tearfully while showing her four young children.
The footage, shot in the village of Peralte, became a symbol of the humanitarian crisis affecting many rural families in Cuba.
At the time, the mother recounted that she had received no state aid and was surviving thanks to the support of her neighbors.
Weeks later, following a massive social media campaign, Noly Blak announced that over three million Cuban pesos had been raised, and today confirmed that the home was complete.
In images shared on TikTok and Facebook, the emotional moment when the mother and her children entered their new home was captured, amidst applause and tears.
The house cost $6,000, and the activist gave the remaining funds to the recipient—a box filled with Cuban peso bills collected during the spontaneous fundraising effort.
Additionally, the woman revealed she received over 250,000 Cuban pesos in direct donations from people moved by her story.
"I never thought so many people would care about me. Thank you to everyone who helped. My children have a roof over their heads again," she expressed.
The case has been celebrated as an example of citizen solidarity in the face of the Cuban government's inefficiency, which did not offer assistance to the family despite their complete loss.
"This wasn't the government; it was the people helping the people," Noly Blak stated. "We've proven that good deeds can be done, even as the country falls apart."
Noly Blak's project, which has built or repaired over 20 homes in rural Holguín, is entirely funded by voluntary donations from Cubans both on the island and abroad.
FAQs About Cuban Solidarity Projects
How was the funding for the new home raised?
Funding for the new home was raised through a massive social media campaign that collected over three million Cuban pesos from generous donors both within Cuba and abroad.
What is the "Homes for Cuba" project?
The "Homes for Cuba" project is a solidarity initiative led by activist Noly Blak, focused on rebuilding or repairing homes for families in need in rural areas of Holguín, funded entirely by voluntary donations.
What impact did the hurricane have on the family?
Hurricane Melissa left the family with nothing, prompting the mother to make a desperate plea for food for her children, as they had received no assistance from the state.