In this post, you will find a description of the project, followed further below by Bettina’s latest field report from July 2026.

What is this project about?

Cuba is a country that has been facing severe hardship for many years. A large part of the population has been living below the poverty line for a long time. At the end of 2025, Hurricane Melissa dramatically worsened the situation. It caused extensive destruction, especially in southeastern Cuba, including the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, Holguín, and Las Tunas.

The geopolitical situation continues to deteriorate, and the U.S. embargo has been further tightened, making it increasingly difficult for people to obtain even the most basic necessities. In these uncertain times, the people of Cuba need international support more than ever.

For many years, Santiago de Cuba has been home to a very special place of solidarity and community: the Ramírez Moreno Humanitarian Center. It was founded by Mileyvis Ramírez Moreno and is located in her own home. Unfortunately, this house was also severely damaged by the hurricane.

Kai and Bettina have both visited the project several times and know it well. In December 2025, Bettina witnessed the extensive damage to the building firsthand, as well as the extremely difficult living conditions of the Cuban people. Many live far below the poverty line. A retired person who worked their entire life receives a pension equivalent to only about €6 per month. One liter of cooking oil costs around €1. Quite simply, people’s incomes are not enough to provide adequate food for themselves and their families.

What are we raising donations for?

The goal of this fundraising campaign is to renovate the existing Humanitarian Center and restore it so that it can once again operate at full capacity. This will allow its important work to continue and expand.

Approximately €12,000 is needed to complete the necessary renovations and restart the community projects. Every euro brings us one step closer to this goal. Even with a much smaller amount, we can begin repairs and gradually continue rebuilding and expanding the Humanitarian Center.

So far, we have already raised €3,942.

As an alternative, you can also donate to Bettina via TWINT using the number +41 (0) 7650 55527.

Important: Donations made via TWINT are greatly appreciated, but only donations made through the donation button are eligible for an official donation receipt.

What does the Humanitarian Center do?

For many years, the center has served as an open meeting place and a source of support for the local community. Among its activities are:

Free health education events
Yoga and meditation classes
Free assistance for people living in vulnerable situations

Many people have received food, clothing, and personal support through the center. Mileyvis and her family have also repeatedly helped repair the homes of other families whenever they were in poor condition.

What comes next?

With your support, we want to repair the damage caused by the hurricane and further develop the Humanitarian Center so that community projects can resume and direct assistance can continue reaching those who need it most.

Some of the planned initiatives include:

A weekly community lunch for people with low incomes
New courses and workshops led by qualified professionals, who will receive accommodation and meals in return for their voluntary work

Thank you 💛

Every donation—regardless of its size—helps bring hope, community, and practical support back to Santiago de Cuba.

Thank you very much for your generosity and support.

Cuba Field Report – July 18, 2026

Dear friends, dear donors, and dear supporters,

In June 2026, I traveled to Santiago de Cuba and personally delivered the donated funds. We would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generosity. Your support makes it possible to bring hope and create meaningful change.

What did I find?

The poverty throughout the country is evident and continues to worsen. Every day, people approached me on the streets asking whether I could help them.

The country’s infrastructure is deteriorating on every level: daily power outages, extremely limited transportation, piles of garbage in the streets, poor sanitation, restricted access to food, censorship, inflation, and very limited access to cash.

I could continue this list with countless additional examples, but instead I would like to focus on the project and the next steps.

What is the concrete plan?

The donated funds are being used step by step. Progress is slow but continuous because of the many challenges mentioned above.

The local project team in Santiago de Cuba continues the work even while I am away.

Progress so far

The house

The roof of the Casa de Humanidad has been repaired, and all leaks have been sealed. The interior is now dry again and protected from the rain.

Equipment

An EcoFlow portable power station and a solar panel have been purchased.

Frequent power outages have a profound impact on everyday life. Without electricity, even basic daily tasks become impossible or extremely difficult. This equipment enables the center to remain operational during blackouts.