Joy Without Borders: A Project Fostering Humanity Between Children in Quebec and Cuba

Despite crises, cultural differences, and the thousands of miles that separate people, certain gestures still manage to forge deep human connections.
This is exactly what the “Joie sans frontière” project achieved—a heartwarming initiative conceived between Quebec and Cuba.

Since Soutien Direct International has a direct presence on the ground in Havana, the Katholikos organization called on our team to make this wonderful exchange between children from Quebec and Cuba a reality.

A drawing to share the joy

Fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade students at La Passerelle Elementary School in Lac-Saint-Charles were asked to draw what joy means to them.

Each design, preserved in its entirety, was then printed on T-shirts for children at an elementary school in Havana, Cuba.

But the project didn't stop there.

Each T-shirt also came with a letter written by the students from Quebec. Some were written in French, others in Spanish. In Cuba, these letters sparked a great deal of curiosity and emotion among the children who received them.

According to our field coordinator, Yuni Batista Diaz, many children were fascinated by this discovery. Some tried to make sense of the words written in another language, while others asked for help translating the letters so they could understand their meaning.

Beyond material gifts, it was above all heartfelt messages that traveled from one country to another.

An exchange that also affects parents

The event also elicited very positive reactions from many Cuban parents, who found the idea deeply humane and touching.

At a time when families are facing difficult circumstances marked by shortages and daily challenges, this simple gesture brought smiles, curiosity, and a genuine moment of shared joy.

Seeing children from another country take the time to draw, write, and think about them had a real impact.

Joy is now taking the opposite path

In turn, the Cuban children were also invited to draw what joy means to them.

These drawings will soon be returned to Quebec and presented to the participating students at La Passerelle School, thus bringing this wonderful exchange between young people from both countries to a close.

Through this simple yet deeply human journey, the project forges connections between those who create, those who give, and those who receive.

He reminds us that an act as simple as drawing can open hearts, bring people together, and sow the seeds of hope.

A look back in pictures

We invite you to check out some photos and a video of this wonderful event held in Havana, Cuba.

We would also like to highlight this wonderful initiative by the Katholikos organization and sincerely thank them for placing their trust in Soutien Direct International to carry out and coordinate the project on the ground in Havana.

Thanks to this collaboration, children in Quebec and Cuba were able to connect through something simple yet deeply human: joy.