EDUCATION TROUGH WHATSAPP


Education through WhatsApp is a photography project that aims to make visible the increasing social inequalities regarding access to education in elementary school in Ecuador, its consequences and responses during the COVID 19 emergency.


In Ecuador 4.6 million Children are affected by the closure of schools. In this context, the Department of Education (DOE) has carried on a COVID 19 Education Plan via a virtual platform. The DOE has gathered digital resources, school texts and developed remote-learning protocols for students and teachers. Nevertheless, according to UNICEF, only 37% of households in Ecuador have access to the internet. This means that 6 out of 10 children cannot continue their studies. The situation is even more critical for children in rural areas where only 16% of the households have any access to technological devices.


This photographic essay narrates stories of students and teachers of public, private and community schools in Pichincha, Ecuador. School communities are facing a diversity of challenges. 


Nevertheless, they are looking for alternatives to continue with their education remotely. 

Janela Sánchez Torres is a young aunt of Joel and Heidi, students of the Yachay Wasi school. Her nephews love her very much because she helps them do their homework. In this case she helps with translations using Google Translate. Yachay Wasi, Bilingual
One of the classrooms of Ruperto Alarcón Falconí Elementary School, in rural parish of Cotogchoa.It is empty, just as it was left on the last day of school, before school attendance was suspended due to the health emergency caused by the COVID-19 virus.
Roxana, Doménica, and Ramona do their homework at home. They don´t have internet access at home so, they make weekly recharges of $ 5.00 to communicate with their teachers. Quito, June 24, 2020. Johis Alarcón
Closing ceremony of the school year held with all biosecurity measures in the rural area of Rumiñahui district. Only the students on the school's honor roll, along with a family member, were part of the event. June 29, 2020. Cotogchoa-Ecuador. Andrés Yép
Gael Pin, 4 years old, wears the cap and mask he will use at the closing ceremony of the school year, which will be done via video conference. Gael's family has access to the internet fortunately because of his neighbor has that service and shares it with
Violeta Proaño (53) and Karla Jiménez (36) are teachers of basic preparatory education for 5-year-old children in the rural area of ​​Yaruquí in Quito, Ecuador. Since the emergence of COVID-19 they decided to install a room in their home in a didactic cla
The "Virgilio Guerrero" Center for Juvenile Offenders in the city of Quito, Ecuador, is home to the corridor of 100 teenage offenders who are serving their sentences there. The “León Febres Cordero” Educational Unit operates within the institution, which
Two days a week Martín and Maía have French classes, on those days the house becomes a classroom where the 3 of them have to be in front of the computer, they are students and she is a teacher. Karina García 34 years old, has been a teacher for 15 years,
Graciela Almachi is a teacher who has to practice virtual education. She is recording a class-video with the help of her 6-year´s son in a makeshift classroom at home. Quito, June 22, 2020. Johis Alarcón La profesora Graciela Almachi graba las clases par
Alegría Aguirre is 8 years old. She attends a private school in the North of Quito-Ecuador. Due to the Covid-19 crisis, classes had been held through their online platform since March 13. On the 3rd of June of 2020, Alegría continues with her new routine

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