Cuba grant recipient: “So hungry they ate their fear”

In late September, the U.S. Agency for International Development awarded $6,669,000 in grants for projects aimed at tracking human rights abuses, assisting political prisoners, exposing labor exploitation, funding independent journalists and “building common goals for democracy.”
The recipients, amounts and project descriptions are below:

  • International Republican Institute, $1,006,895 for projects “supporting human rights in Cuba” and “tracking and revealing abuses in Cuba.”
  • Pan American Development Foundation, $800,000 to expose labor exploitation in Cuba.
  • Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba, $717,000, to expose “exploitation of Cuban medical workers.”
  • Digital News Association, $604,920 for a project called, “La Gente Sabe – Military Exposure in Cuba.”
  • Grupo de Apoyo a la Democracia, $625,000 for “humanitarian assistance for political prisoners.”
  • International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights, $546,000 for a program called, “So Hungry They Ate Their Fear: Human Rights Violations and Historically Marginalized Groups in Post-Protest Cuba.”
  • Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, $545,573 to build “common goals for democracy.”
  • Directorio Democrático Cubano, $520,179 for a project called, “Truth About Exploitation in Cuban Tourism.”
  • Outreach Aid to the Americas, $500,000 for “acción humanitaria y conciencia.”
  • Cubanet News, $408,003 to denounce “exploitation of Cuban tourism workers through multimedia journalism.”
  • Asociación Observatorio Cubano de Derechos Humanos, $250,000 for a project titled, “Political Prisoners in Cuba: Denouncing, Monitoring and Advocating.”
  • Libertatis, $166,430 to promote human rights in Cuba.


Six of the 12 grant recipients are based in Florida; four are in Washington, D.C., one is in Texas and one in Spain.
USAID projects often last two to three years. Spending records show that the 12 recipients could receive a total of $18,390,305 if their projects are fully funded from now until the last of their programs end on Sept. 30, 2023. The full amount is not guaranteed and depends on funding from Congress.

Total grant amounts if all projects are fully funded by Congress.

source: Cuba Money Project