Life Under Lockdown -- April 12, 2020

by Mark Ely, Executive Director

A look at how our students and their families are handling the COVID-19 crisis.

Jaime teaching his parents to play chess

Jaime and his family are currently sheltering at home. His father is working, since he is a baker and it is a daily consumer product.  They go to work with the necessary sanitary measures and they return before the curfew. They have more time to share, they do some family activities such as tidying up the house, sweeping, and playing.  Likewise, Jaime is studying via virtual platform, and is making the most of his time so that he is able to resume classes without delay when they resume.

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Angélica's family. She's the tall one.

Angélica's father is only able to work half a day due to the curfew.  The members of the family are sheltered in their home. The children are helping the mother to clean the house, wash the dishes, collect reeds in the grove, among other activities.  Before the suspension of classes, Angélica was doing her teaching practice in a small rural school.  To take advantage of the free time, she is working on the materials she will use when classes resume.

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​María has been helping her mother around the house and reading to her little brother.  Her father is a tailor who makes traditional clothing.  He still works during the week, but the demand for these products has decreased.  Due to lack of transportation, he goes to his workplace by foot.

María reading to her brother

Helping with the laundry

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Marta studying

Her mother weaving

Things are complicated for Marta and her mother.  Government restrictions and a fall in demand resulted in the shutdown of the cooperative where Marta's mother sells her woven reeds.  For the moment they are staying at home, safeguarding the health of the family.  Marta is keeping up with her school work.  Her mother is still weaving reeds with hopes that they will soon be back in demand.

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Related news: COVID-19 in Guatemala -- April 12, 2020