HAVANA — Amid Cuba’s deepening energy crisis and tightening political climate, a young Havana resident has transformed his family home into a vibrant cultural hub that has become a focal point for the city’s youth, artists, and activists.

David González, 29, hosts weekend gatherings at his childhood residence, turning it into one of Havana’s rare illuminated enclaves during frequent blackouts caused largely by U.S. sanctions that have severely restricted Cuba’s oil imports. A single 10-kilowatt-hour battery imported from Spain powers the events, supplying energy for lighting, sound systems, and refrigeration at the venue, which includes a bar and an eight-piece band performing on the porch.

Since August, González’s initiative, known as El Proyecto (The Project), has expanded from small film screenings to a range of cultural activities including concerts, art exhibitions, lectures, dance parties, and increasingly, political discussions and protests against the Cuban government. With major cultural venues like the Fábrica de Arte Cubano shuttered due to power shortages, El Proyecto has filled a void for Havana’s young population seeking creative and social engagement amid difficult conditions.

“The best form of resistance here is happiness,” González said. “They want you angry and frustrated, but we fight with good mood and good vibes.” His gatherings attract predominantly Gen Z participants who describe the space as a much-needed oasis in a city darkened both literally and figuratively by rolling blackouts and government repression.

González, who earned a master’s degree in political communication in London in 2022, hopes to evolve El Proyecto into a more politically active movement. A recent event marking the fifth anniversary of Cuba’s largest mass protests featured politically charged performances and slogans calling for freedom and change. Participants banged pots and pans—a widely used form of protest in Cuba—and vocally opposed the government. Cuban authorities reportedly issued warnings but have maintained an inconsistent enforcement of restrictions on public gatherings this year, allowing some protests while arresting others.

“Cuba is dying and a new Cuba is being born,” González said. “The old symbols and violence cannot stop the resistance and creativity of many people.” He acknowledged the risks involved in his activities but expressed unwillingness to self-censor out of fear.

The Cuban government attributes the island’s hardships to sustained aggression from the United States and rejects protests aimed at its own leadership. Carlos Fernández de Cossío, Cuba’s deputy foreign minister, called the U.S. “the aggressor” and Cuba “the country under aggression.” A White House spokesperson labeled Cuba a national security threat and said Washington aims to assist the Cuban people but is hindered by the current government.

El Proyecto operates out of a nearly century-old home with a complex history: originally owned by a wealthy family before confiscation after the 1959 revolution, partially repurchased by González’s grandmother decades later. After his grandmother’s death in 2021, the family nearly sold the property, but González convinced his mother to retain it and has since returned from abroad to live there and sustain the project.

Despite a growing exodus of young Cubans, González says many residents remain committed to shaping their country’s future. “Something inside of us tells us not to leave,” he said. “They want to witness what’s about to come.”