Soutien Direct International — New Goal: To Help More Than 1,000 Families in Havana
Since March 2026, Soutien Direct International has been carrying out a direct humanitarian mission in Cuba to support families living in extremely precarious conditions, primarily in several areas of Havana.
After three months of field operations, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on this humanitarian initiative, which continues to grow.
Human assistance that is structured and directly connected to the field
From the very start of this mission, our goal was clear: to provide practical, compassionate, and well-organized assistance that directly addresses the daily realities faced by the Cuban people.
Over the past few months, our organization has, among other things:
- established a system for assessing families in situations of severe hardship
- established an active and ongoing human presence on the ground
- established a local distribution network
- distributed hundreds of essential food baskets rich in protein
- launched a documentation program aimed at better understanding and tracking changing needs in the field
This direct presence now allows us to better understand families’ actual needs and to respond in a more compassionate, timely, and organized manner.
A dedicated team of volunteers
This mission also relies on the outstanding work of a dozen volunteers, including both Quebecers and Cubans.
Day after day, this team helps coordinate operations, assess needs, prepare food baskets, travel to affected areas, and distribute aid directly to families.
In a context that has become highly complex and unstable, their personal commitment makes a real difference.
A documentation program grounded in real-world experience
Soutien Direct International has also established a documentation program that is implemented directly as part of its humanitarian operations in Havana.
This program is based on firsthand observations made during food basket deliveries and visits to the families receiving assistance. It provides a detailed record of certain aspects of the daily reality currently faced by the population.
The information collected includes, in particular:
- household living conditions
- sources of revenue
- access to food
- access to water and electricity
- issues related to health and access to medicines
The goal is to build a reliable database grounded in on-the-ground realities, in order to better understand needs, track how they evolve over time, and contribute to a more accurate assessment of the current situation in Havana.
Data is collected in a respectful and confidential manner.
The main objectives of this program include:
- support the humanitarian work of Soutien Direct International
- increase transparency for donors
- provide practical guidance to partners, organizations, and the media
In a world where our points of reference are becoming increasingly fragile, documenting them has become a responsibility.
Understand clearly to act more effectively.
A mission that is gaining momentum
Over the past few weeks, our work has also helped raise awareness among several institutional partners, volunteers, donors, and certain national media outlets about the current situation in Cuba.
This visibility is now helping to gradually expand our operational capabilities and resources in the field.
Every share, every contribution, and every act of support makes a real difference in helping more families.
Our new goal: to support more than 1,000 families
Given the scale of the needs observed on the ground, Soutien Direct International is now setting a new major goal:
directly support more than 1,000 families in Havana, while gradually expanding our aid to certain other specific regions of the country where needs remain immense.
We firmly believe that humanitarian aid that is well-organized, transparent, and directly connected to the field can truly make a lasting difference in people’s lives.
Thank you
We would like to sincerely thank:
- Quebecers, Canadians, and Europeans who support this initiative
- our volunteers from Quebec and Cuba
- our partners and collaborators
- everyone who helps spread the word about this mission
Soutien Direct International is a Canadian nonprofit organization with a board of directors composed of members from Quebec and Cuba.
The work we’ve done since March is just the beginning.
And despite the challenges, we remain convinced that, together, we can provide practical, compassionate, and respectful support to the families who need it most.