"How do you manage to live here and, on top of that, travel to Cuba, send packages back home, send money, recharge phones every month, buy food packages monthly?" questioned Cuban TikTok user @yarecapey in a video that has garnered over 40,000 views.
The Cuban woman initiated an open conversation about the challenges many emigrants face in maintaining a life abroad while consistently sending aid to their families back in Cuba. "This is for all Cubans living outside the country. Tell me how you balance living abroad, paying for housing, utilities, or 'bills,' as we say in the United States," she stated.
She also questioned whether it's sustainable to bear the emotional and financial burden of providing help every month: "Helping is one thing, but supporting people in Cuba is another." She shared specific examples: "I know someone who rents a room in a house, pays about $500, and spends the entire year working to buy clothes, shoes, everything... and at the end of the year, they go to Cuba loaded with suitcases."
According to her, this person admitted to paying "$700 at the Miami airport" for excess baggage and even more upon arriving in Cuba. "And then they tell me, 'I have to keep living in a small room to pay less, because otherwise, how do I help my family in Cuba?'"
Yarecapey recalled that during her childhood on the island, she never received help from abroad: "I walked barefoot when it was necessary, with sandals that the cobbler around the corner repaired over and over."
Heated Debate on TikTok
The video sparked hundreds of comments reflecting both support and opposition to her message. One of the most repeated responses was: "Working, working, and working." Others claimed that the life of an emigrant is full of sacrifices: working long hours, getting into debt, or living in minimal conditions to send money, food packages, or medicines to Cuba.
Criticism also emerged regarding the creator's perspective. Several comments agreed that no one should judge how other emigrants choose to help their families: "That's none of your business"; "Everyone does what they can and want."
Among the testimonials, some shared that they send large amounts of money and food monthly. Others mentioned being forced to limit their expenses, forgo comforts, or even avoid traveling to Cuba to sustain their families.
Other Recent Testimonies
This debate isn't new. Last December, user @cindyforte shared on TikTok how she organizes food shipments to her family: "How can I not, when the most important people in my life are there."
In Spain, another TikToker criticized those who ask without understanding the effort involved: "Do they think that money falls from the sky? I believe they do." She added that many relatives don't comprehend the sacrifice of working in cleaning, caregiving, or enduring poor working conditions.
Meanwhile, a creator based in the U.S. was blunt: "What's the point of leaving Cuba? Coming here to support others? I came for myself."
Help or Dependency?
The opinions reflect a common dilemma among Cuban emigrants: balancing love for family with the need to survive in high-pressure economic contexts. While some defend helping unconditionally, others believe it's necessary to set limits to avoid self-exploitation or permanent debt.
Yarecapey concluded her video with an invitation: "Tell me how you do it. Whether you have private businesses or whatever. How you have your own home, how you own properties, how you get ahead and, at the same time, support everyone in Cuba. Because I would love to know."
Challenges of Supporting Families in Cuba from Abroad
What are the common challenges faced by Cubans abroad in supporting their families back home?
Cubans living abroad often face challenges such as balancing their own living expenses with the financial burden of sending money and goods to their families in Cuba. This can lead to sacrifices such as working long hours, getting into debt, or living in minimal conditions.
How do emigrants manage to send regular support to their families in Cuba?
Many emigrants manage by working extra jobs, cutting personal expenses, or living in cheaper housing to save money for sending back home. They often prioritize their family's needs over their own to provide consistent support.
Why do some emigrants choose to limit or stop their support to families in Cuba?
Some emigrants choose to limit or stop their support to avoid self-exploitation, financial strain, or when they feel the assistance fosters dependency rather than empowerment. Setting boundaries can be necessary for their own well-being.