“I help my mum and she helps me”
meet jennifer
11 year old Jennifer attends a Toybox supported education project in Guatemala City, run by local partner, Puerta de Esperanza.
The 'Caminar Juntos' project focuses on supporting children into education while working with families to build nurturing home environments. Food is also an important part of the project, helping children and their families who struggle to meet their daily needs engage in activities and continue participating. A member of the Puerta team shared,
"Jennifer has been with Caminar Juntos since the project began. This year she started second grade, but due to ongoing family responsibilities, she had to take on adult responsibilities. Although this was not ideal, the project has been able to continue supporting Jennifer and her family through informal educational support, health accompaniment, and occupational workshops, such as baking.
Jennifer reflects the reality of the sacrifices that girls often have to make for their families so that their siblings can continue their education and well-being, and so that their parents can go to work and provide an income."
Daily life
Jennifer lives with her family, including four siblings in a rented room in an urban area where many families live in temporary accommodation. Water is only available a few days each week. Her mother works as a recycler at a local landfill site. While her mother and grandmother are at work, Jennifer takes on a number of responsibilites at home, caring for her younger siblings. She shares,
“ I help my mum and she helps me. I get up at 8 in the morning. I go shopping, buy meat and eggs, and take care of my sisters. I support my sisters and cousin. In the afternoon, I watch TV and clean. I accompany my grandmother in the evening or sometimes we go to make bread at the project."
Jennifer shares that her main reason for joining the project was, "to learn." Through the project, she receives practical and emotional support:
"They take us to camps, and help me with my school supplies. They also teach me how to make bread and they visit me."
Pictured below: Jennifer plays the drums during a project activity (L) Jennifer learns to make dough at the project.
learning new skills
The project has introduced Jennifer to new opportunities, she reflects;
"I enjoy learning how to cook things like bread and pizza because if I don't study, at least I can be a cook. At the project I've also leaned to play drums and went to dance classes. I like everything at the project, but my favourite thing are the visits to the swimming pools because we are with our families - I also like the swimming pools because we get out of here.”
At home, food can be limited. Jennifer explains, "My grandmother brings things from downstairs - the rubbish dump." However, since attending the project, Jennifer has seen a change; "We eat more now."
Jennifer is proud of the things she can do: "helping my mum, baking bread and I can change my brothers and bathe them."
Through her involvement in the project, Jennifer is learning new skills and looking ahead to the future she hopes for. She concludes,
"When I grow up I want to be a doctor. I want to help people. I want to have my own house and I'm going to get married at sixty!"
Pictured below: Jennifer with her family.
