Yancey Pérez
Every day starts the same for me, but my heart fills with a mixture of pride and concern as I leave the house. The sun is just peeking out, but I know that in a few hours its heat will be relentless. I work in construction, in cleaning, ensuring that every space is spotless for those who will one day call those places home. But, unlike those who come home, I spend my working hours in the sun, in the extreme heat, facing what many could not endure for a single day.
Working outdoors is like a constant battle between the body and the weather. There are days when the heat is so intense that I feel like every breath burns me. There are times when I feel the tiredness in my bones and the sun seems like a weight that I carry on my shoulders. There is no shade to cover me, and although I wear my hat and drink water constantly, sometimes nothing seems to relieve the fire I feel on my skin.
One of the most difficult moments is when the heat starts to play with my mind and body. The fatigue is so deep that it seems impossible to continue. But, somehow, I always find the strength to continue. I think of my family, of the people who will one day walk into these buildings and call them their own. I think about the value of my work, about what it means. It is hard work, yes, but it is also a testament to my resilience and the dignity I feel in every effort.
The heat affects me on other levels as well. I am hypertensive, and there are days when I wonder how my heart will be able to withstand so much. There are nights when I come home completely exhausted, and although my family welcomes me with love, they see me tired and feel worried. It's hard for them, and even though I try not to show them everything that happened, I know that my sacrifice is something they see, even without me saying it.
Still, there's something that motivates me to keep going. It' s a mixture of faith, of hope, of the belief that what I do has meaning and value. It motivates me to know that although my work is invisible to many, it is essential for others to have a home. It is a work that fills me with pride and that allows me to face any obstacle, because I know that every drop of sweat has a purpose.
If I could ask for something, it would be a change that allows us to work more safely. Perhaps some kind of protection from the sun, breaks in cool areas, more direct support for our health. But, even without it, I know I'll continue, because this job has taught me something profound about life: that strength is not the absence of fear or tiredness, but the ability to keep going in spite of them.
Knowing that my story will be shared with the community fills me with indescribable emotion. I want others to know what it really means to work in the sun, in extreme heat. I want you to understand that behind every clean building, every spotless space, there is someone like me, someone who, despite sacrifices, pushes forward with faith and determination. Because this work, although hard, is my way of building something bigger. It's my way of leaving a mark on the world.
With affection and cordial greetings.
Yancey Pérez, 43 years old, Construction Site Cleaner. Cuba
