growing up in santiago de cuba, 22—year—old selima learned this from a young age.�*s father was a dissident. that had repercussions for the whole family. the impact of the lockdown, the lack of tourism and us trade sanctions meant cuba was plunged into its deepest crisis in decades. on 0n11 on 11july on11july 2021, on 11 july 2021, protests swept across the streets of cuba. some of the largest anti—government demonstrations since 1959. alejandro was a soldier living in havana. it wasn't long before protesters say events turned violent. cu ba ns cubans who wanted to leave the country face travel restrictions abroad. but four months after the protest, nicaragua, a long—standing ally, unexpectedly lifted requirement for visiting cubans to have visa. it was the chance celimar had been waiting for. celimar had been waiting for. celimar knew if she could get to nicaragua, gangs of smugglers would transport her illegally across central america to the us, where her father was living. celimar was travelling on her own. but along the route, she joined thousands of other cuba