Where They Live – Esmerido

Esmerido Lives  next to my friend Pablo …https://wp.me/p4fUlX-1mC …  and survives on a monthly pension of about 12 dollars.

It’s a cozy looking little apartment that he keeps clean and organized.

The problem is that, like so many other buildings in old Havana, this one is falling down around him. Two years ago a fire that started on the ground floor in the rear of the building caused extensive damage. A portion of the roof was lost and floors and walls collapsed in that area. Now rain water accumulates causing an abundance of mold and mildew to grow unchecked. The air is so thick with the odor of decay that it almost seems possible to cut it with a knife.

 

 

The Home Of Jose

Continued from : A Tornado In Havana

A Tornado In Havana

Just down the street from Rolando, we met Jose who also wanted to show us the tornado damage to his home.

Jose had worked laboriously to remove all the rubble from his home, but we could see where walls were missing.

Many of the rooms were now open to the elements.

A success Story – Part 5

Thanks to generous support from my small group of friends, Kate, Louise, Pam, Matt, Susan, and Robert we were able to continue to support this wonderful family.

Over the past three years other necessities were purchased for this family.

We purchased three new beds and mattresses.

A new semi-automatic washing machine (no more hand-wringing the wet clothes) and paint for the walls. We have also purchased and installed new windows and doors.

The youngest girl needed to have her adenoids removed. This  entailed a costly trip to the hospital which was 60 km away and a stay of two days. The expense of such a trip for the average person is beyond their means. We were able to help.

Smiles

Tayluma has a talent for manicure. It helps her to earn a little money. Whenever I visit, I bring supplies for her.

 

 

 

 

A Success Story – Part 3

Many thanks to my friends Kate, Louise, Pam, Matt, Susan, and Robert for providing encouragement, support, and money to help this poor family.

We build a bathroom.

Before, the toilet had to be flushed with a bucket of water from  these barrels.

Construction has already started here. The piping is in place for the new sink, shower, and toilet.

The shower.

A water tank was installed on the roof.

Outside faucets were added for laundry.

Cell phone images sent to me of the tiling of the bathroom:

Part of the deal when hiring workers is that one has to feed them.

On my next visit I get to see the completed work. For the first time in their lives they have a shower (with HOT water) and a modern bathroom.

Before painting the finished work.

On-demand electric hot water shower.

Next – We rebuild the kitchen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Success Story – Part 1

It’s time to tell this story.

Fellow travelers and friends Kate, Pam and I met Tayluma in  January 2015 in Trinidad, Cuba.

She returned my wave when we were passing by her house so we stopped and she invited us in. She proceeded to give us an earful.

Cubans can get in trouble for being too friendly with tourists, especially inviting them into their homes, so it was a shock when she unloaded on us.

She was upset and crying, but fighting for her children. ” I don’t care who knows. My children should not have to live like this.”

She showed us everything:

Leaking roof

A toilet and a hole in the ground for a bathroom.

Empty refrigerator

Electric bill in arrears

The two girls were sleeping in one bed, feet to feet, with clothes piled up to make the mattress long enough.

Kitchen that was not sanitary.

Bad Wiring

Storing water to “flush” the toilet.

The children were precious. Well behaved, quiet, and intelligent.

I shed tears as we walked away and vowed to try to help.

The next day we returned with a fellow traveler to translate for us.

I brought a bag of bread and cookies that I was able to sneak out of the hotel breakfast buffet.

We photographed and listen to her story:

Her husband moved them into this house to take care of his dying uncle. When the uncle passed, the husband left town and Tayluma was left alone with her two girls and the house.

The immediate concern was the electric bill and a roof that leaked for about half the length of the house.

The problem was that our tour was leaving the next day.

We left her with money for the electricity and food.

I was able to establish e-mail contact with Tayluma. It was a dial-up connection and not very reliable and she had to walk to the internet business, rent a computer one for one cuc/ hr. and learn how to use it. Finally she emailed me. It was her lifeline.

I got all her information and set her with up an AIS debit card account.  We were then able to transfer money to her. At least we could keep the lights on and food in the house.

Part two – We repair the roof.    https://wp.me/p4fUlX-W9

 

Libetsy

Libetsy is a precocious three-year old. She is the daughter of Yoel’s brother Tatico and his wife Aymara and live on the family farm outside of San Jose de Las Lajas.

  https://wp.me/p4fUlX-HH

On my last visit I brought for her an old trac phone. It does not function as a phone in Cuba, but it does hold music and games. Now she wouldn’t have to play with her father’s phone.

It also has a camera!

Didn’t she feel special taking photos of everyone!

She will steal your heart.

Where They Live – Avarista

Avarista is an 81-year-old living in Centro Havana. She tells us that she is former film star. Her screen name was Arri Teresa Bruzo.

 

Her apartment is hidden in the interior of one of the huge old buildings in Havana.

Like almost all the living spaces on the ground floor, the air is thick with the odor of mold and mildew.

 

Where They Live – Two Sisters

The Varonas are two sisters that live in two houses in a small village far outside the city of Holguin, Cuba.

L. and son Cristian.

Corrugated steel panels for roofing is typical.

The door in the distance is the outhouse and has no running water.

Cousins

 

M. lives on the same dirt road a few houses away.

The sisters wash clothes together because there is only one washing machine.

The white rectangular unit next to the red barrel is an old Soviet washing machine. It is increasingly difficult to find repair parts and new Chinese models cost over 250 cuc.

Decorations.

Proud people, the women keep their houses neat and clean.

Where They Live – Two Brothers

While exploring a dirt road on the distant outskirts of Trinidad, Cuba my fellow travelers and I were waved into the homestead of Antonio and Jose Manuel Verde. These two brothers wanted to share their hospitality and show us around their farm.

 

Antonio did most of the talking, explaining when the mangoes would be ready to pick and guiding us through all the different crops that they harvest.

Cooking with charcoal.

Jose Manuel made us some of their home-grown coffee.

 

 

 

Where They Live – Mercedes

Mercedes is a 78-year-old living with her daughter in Centro Habana who worked as a retail administrator. (manager)