Latin America has been especially hard hit by COVID-19 but, thankfully, the current government of Guatemala has been proactive and responsive, and the Guatemalan people have been remarkably compliant with its curfews, quarantines, and health guidelines.
Schools were shuttered and classes were suspended in the last week of March, and the government had no expectation of classes being able to continue through the lock-down. Smart phones remain a rare luxury for most of the population, and many homes lack even the basic services of plumbing and electricity, much less a broadband internet connection.
Looking for opportunities to safely engage with their students, a few teachers began volunteering to deliver the weekly government food rations to the homes of their students. Though not required to do so, they began delivering learning materials and worksheets along with the groceries, and some even took the initiative of making a cell phone available to the family, so the kids could participate in online classes, watch instructional videos, or leave questions for the teacher.
TINFA has received several letters from teachers who have found their technology training especially helpful as they continue to experiment with new ways of keeping their classes going while the kids remain at home. Inspired by their initiative, TINFA has been in contact with its partner schools in Guatemala and, in May, began coordinating with the teachers from schools all over rural western Guatemala to assemble their best ideas into grade-level booklets of instructional material and worksheets that could be delivered along with the weekly food rations to all their students.
In July, the first of these booklets was ready for distribution to the region’s 4th, 5th, and 6th graders. Each contained about 20 pages of material in the language arts and mathematics prepared by 15 teachers from 11 schools.
For the first of these booklets, teachers asked kids to share their experiences of the lock-down – to express their feelings and frustrations and tell us how they and their families are coping. The first page of the booklets distributed to the higher levels, 5th and 6th grades, contains a free writing assignment.
In the space provided, please write two or three paragraphs of what your experience at home has been like due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). You can also add a drawing or image.
Here are some of their responses.
“Honestly, it has been a bit boring because we do not have the freedom we had before the outbreak of the coronavirus. At the same time, it is nice to be at home with parents who help us with our homework, because everyone gives their opinions. We are learning how to help with what needs to be done around the house and, after that, we play with our cousins and help feed our pets. But above all I miss going to school, and seeing my teacher, who teaches us a little bit of everything. And I also miss my classmates and playing with them.”
“ I have been challenging myself to read and think about things on my own, and I am finding community in my family, and in God by whose grace we are still alive and healthy. I have faith in God, and for those who strive above all else to be good people.
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“[When my father lost his job] we no electricity or cable and I was very bored because we had no means for me to continue studying. My cousin told me to keep a diary so I could improve my handwriting. I kept it up but I was still bored. Then I started copying exercises from the math book, but there were exercises I did not understand. I asked for help and then was able to do them.”
“It’s like being locked up because I used to go at night to play. And I couldn’t go to school. I know that sometimes I don’t get good grades, but even so, I like going to school and all the boring stuff. I miss school because the teacher would explain things and sometimes I don’t understand the book. But quarantine is boring, so I read.”
“I am learning gardening, and I have more time for my two parrots, two cats, and two dogs. I hardly see my mom because she spends her time working. When I do see her, we go and collect fruit from the guagua and star fruit trees.”