How COVID-19 has changed my life...

"I am 17 years old and studying in Grade 10 this year.  I am one of the mature students at my school and most of my classmates are a couple years younger than me. My parents took me to school late because we are poor and could not afford many of us going to school.   We  live in a rural village and my big family has 9 of us.  Fortunately I have been on a scholarship since 4 years ago, otherwise I would have to stop going to school already.  I really love school and I would like to become an engineer one day!

When I first heard about COVID-19, I didn't understand about it nor knew how dangerous it is. Thanks to my teachers who gave us good information and knowledge about the things I need to do and not to do.  COVID-19 has given us many challenges and my life is very different now.  

My school has closed since mid-March and I find it very challenging to continue with my learning.  For the first time ever, we are introduced to online learning which I was excited initially.  However, I discovered all sorts of issues as I don't even have a smart device or computer.  Not to mention that there is no internet access from home as our village is remote and basic.  Some of my friends get hold of smart devices, however, they could not afford to top-up their SIM card all the time.  Having said that, some teachers are kind and offer us some paper-based exercises, but it is difficult to arrange a time to obtain them as teachers are not free all the time.  To be honest, I can't complete all the exercises as there are so many things that I don't understand and there is no teacher there to explain.  

COVID-19 has also affected my family significantly.  Some of my elder brothers and sisters used to have full time employment and were able to help support our family.  Many of them are now unemployed and we are all relying on my father to feed the 9 of us!  My family doesn't have any farmland hence there is no reserve of rice to feed all of us.  To make the matter worse, our family has bank loans which we can't even repay now!  My father sells fish at the market and can only bring home around $3 a day.  PeopleStories has delivered relief packages to us, which are helpful.  However, there is just so much more we need and we are really struggling.

A few months ago, one of my sisters who lives far away from us had a new born baby and we were all so happy for her.  Unfortunately, her husband ran away due to the pressure from COVID-19 and she is now left behind to raise the baby.  Luckily, my mother is willing to look after the baby for her, so that she can continue to work at a factory.  She is so far apart from her baby which makes her and our family very sad.  On the other hand, one of my brother has become alcoholic since unemployed and we are all scared and worried about his situation.  

As for me, I started working as a painter at construction sites.  When it is internal painting, the work is kind of ok but it is very difficult to paint the external walls as the weather is very hot and I have to climb up high without much safety measures.  It is not an easy job but I am glad to bring home around $6 a day!  In my spare time, I like reading books and try my best to keep up with the exercises that my teachers give me.

I wish COVID-19 will be gone very soon and I am determined to return to school in the near future.  My dream to become an engineer hasn't changed and I will work very hard to achieve that!"