The Return to Cuba

Music: Koudlam - Brother
In 2018, I visited Cuba on a $500 budget (video series here: • Cuba Vlogs ). I fell in love with the empathy, warmth, and sense of community of the Cuban people.
Today, Cuba is facing a serious economic crisis that has led to major shortages of food, medications, electricity, and gasoline. Many are eating 1 meal per day, are facing prolonged blackouts, and are struggling to access basic medications (both over-the-counter and prescription) - caused in large part by the U.S. trade embargo.
This January, I decided to return to Cuba, to explore new parts of country, make new friends at a hostel, and better understand the country's political and economic situation. Before leaving, I read that it is possible to help with the crisis by bringing humanitarian supplies as checked luggage on my flight. After doing more research, I came into contact with the wonderful Marc Bohland, executive director of the non-profit First Hand Aid, who helped me refine my list of items to purchase. I loaded two duffel bags with pain and allergy medications, First Aid supplies, pens, toothbrushes, rice, and beans (from Walmart).
Marc also connected me over Whatsapp with a driver, who upon my arrival in Cuba took me to a church in the outskirts of Habana, in an area called Guanabacoa. The church doubles as a food pantry and preschool for families in the area. I had a great conversation with the church's compassionate and charismatic pastor, Yoelkis, and was shown the detailed medical registry the church keeps to ensure that all medications go to people with a prescription (otherwise folks will take and resell the meds).
Two days after dropping off the supplies, I was invited back to the church to act as one of the "wise men" for the kids in the preschool, which was the absolute highlight of my trip! (video here - please ignore my rusty Spanish lol: drive.google.c... ).
I write this all out because I could not more highly recommend First Hand Aid as a way to make a real difference in the lives of the Cuban people. If you are visiting Cuba, please consider bringing supplies with you (anything helps, and as of January 2025 you will not have trouble with airport security or Cuban customs). For everyone else, if you're able, a donation to First Hand Aid would go a long way toward helping people in need: www.firsthanda...
With that said, please enjoy this video of some sights from my trip this January, filmed in the cities of Habana and Trinidad :)

[@NoahTief]

Love it Lew! Amazing content as always 🔥

[@a3597]

Thanks Noah!!

[@itsjustme4848]

Great job with the videos, and even better job with making the connections to get your gifted supplies to the right people.We hope life is being good to you!

[@a3597]

Thank you!!