“When I go to school I feel good because my friends are kind.”
Coping with tragedy and loss
Nine-year-old Guicho (pictured above) lives in Guatemala City with his mother, stepfather, and two younger siblings. Guicho's life took a tragic turn when his father and little brother passed away after consuming some instant soups his mother, Valentina, had found at the rubbish dump. Unbeknownst to her, the soups had been laced with rat poison, resulting in their deaths. Guicho himself was also hospitalised for four months.
During this time, Toybox's local partner, Puerta de Esperanza supported the family by raising funds to cover the funeral expenses and providing food supplies. Alongside this, Guicho and Valentina were also referred to the hospital department where they were able to access psychological support services. Additionally, the team continued to regularly visit their home, offering emotional support.
To try and make ends meet following the family's tragic loss, Valentina, who works as a recycler at a landfill site, would spend up to seven hours a day at the rubbish dump, often staying there late into the night, with Guicho accompanying her. But over time, and through the ongoing support and guidance provided by the team, Valentina made the decision to enrol Guicho in their education project.
Pictured above: Guicho and his mother.
Overcoming fears and embracing education
The Puerta de Esperanza team now visits regularly, to assist Guicho with his schoolwork and address any health needs. Valentina was also encouraged to enrol Guicho in school, ensuring he receives the education he is entitled to. With the support of the project, Guicho has embraced his education and has become very responsible with his studies.
Guicho enjoys playing with other children his age and having fun. He shares; "Children in my community feel safe when we are inside the house as there is a lot of danger in the street- we have been taught that by our teachers."
Each morning, Guicho wakes up and goes to the shop to buy breakfast supplies if his stepfather leaves money. After breakfast, he is responsible for cleaning and dressing his younger siblings. He then waits for the Puerta de Esperanza project staff to arrive, or starts his homework on his own until they arrive to help. After having a snack, he gets ready to go to school. When he returns from school, Guicho often runs errands, buys dinner, or checks what his mother has brought back from the dump. He helps prepare dinner, and most of his time is spent at home caring for his younger siblings. Speaking of his experience of school, Guicho shares;
"I was scared because I had never been there before, and there were so many children, and I didn’t know the teachers. I wanted to cry for my mum, but then I stopped crying because I was playing with my friends, and now I feel fine."
Guicho's story is a powerful reminder of the determination of children like him, who dream for a brighter future despite the challenges they face. Through the support of the project and his family, Guicho is buidling the foundation for a promising future. He concludes; "Maths is my favourite subject because it requires solving lots of problems. School is important because they teach me many things and teach me not to use bad words. Now, when I go to school, I feel good because my friends are kind. My dream when I grow up is to be a policeman. My stepfather is my role model. I call him dad. He says, ‘I don’t want you to suffer like I suffered as a child.’"
Pictured above: Guicho in his community.