In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic brought learning to a screeching halt worldwide, creating the most severe global education disruption in history. Students, teachers and parents from the UNESCO Associated Schools Network shared their inspiring stories on coping and continuing to learn during the lockdown. Two years later, we caught up with some of the learners and teachers from all corners of the world to hear how they were doing. Watch and listen to their stories.
Watch testimonies
Noelle, student, Hong Kong SAR China (2022)
Marwa, student, Lebanon (2022)
Aisha, student, Nigeria (2022)
Emma, student, Portugal (2021)
Ricardo, student, Mexico (2021)
Evelina, student, Russian Federation (2021)
Noelle, student, Hong Kong SAR China (2021)
Aisha Bunu, student, Nigeria (2021)
Marwa, student, Lebanon (2021)
Rebeca, teacher, Mexico (2021)
Nuuwa, student, Namibia (2021)
Nanda, student, Indonesia (2021)
Alexander, student, Russian Federation (2021)
Martina, student, Argentina (2021)
Marwa, high school student, Lebanon
Claire, secondary school, France
Jood, 8th grade student, Jordan
Jean-Marc, secondary school teacher, France
Rajaa, primary school, Lebanon
Juan Ignacio, student, Argentina
Paul, high school teacher, Kenya
Noelle, student, Hong Kong SAR China
Nanda, high school student, Indonesia
Klaus, ASPnet National Coordinator, Germany
Kaspar, student, Estonia
Giselle & Gustavo, Mexico
Oumniya, student, Morocco
Nuuwa Lisa, student, Namibia
Arnav, student, India
Ndapewa, teacher & parent, Namibia
Aisha, student, Nigeria
Kefalliou, teacher, Greece
Salem, student, United Arab Emirates
Itzel, student, Colombia
Ilya, student, Russian Federation
Auroni, student, Bangladesh
Read testimonies
Teeba, 14, Baghdad, Iraq
“Our school has been closed, but our teacher created a channel on the Telegram app to send our homework and explain the lessons to us. It’s a good alternative, but I really miss going to school, our teachers and my friends."
Victoria, student, Greece
“We need to stay home and be cool. We all want this virus to end and get out of our homes. Patience!!!”
Erdenechimeg, social worker, Mongolia
“If everyone in the world is healthy, then we can collectively work towards the common good. At this time of great risk, we need to be resilient, self-disciplined, responsible and caring for others."
Faten, high school director, Iraq
“The spread of coronavirus has led to the loss of a school year and the loss of student's efforts. It is imperative that we all play our roles in order to secure education for our students remotely."
Paul, teacher, Kenya
"As a teacher, I encourage learners worldwide to take heart and have hope that we shall overcome. I am taking all necessary steps to educate learners and general populace on measures to take in order to protect themselves from this deadly virus."
Marietta, student, Greece
"As the schools are closed, me and my siblings are spending our free time together by doing a lot of creative things such as painting. We also play board games, videogames and watching movies. Except that, we are having online courses so we can study from home as we cannot go to school.”
Manoty, National Coordinator for ASPnet, Zimbabwe
“I thank the authorities for taking such actions to ensure the safety of learners and educators and to control the spread of the virus. In Zimbabwe, the situation is normal but messages are regularly posted in the media to inform members of public on the spread of the virus and precautionary measures to be taken. We are in solidarity with those affected and wish them all safe until normal learning resumes."
Teeba, 14 year old student, Iraq
“Our school has been closed, but our teacher created a channel on the Telegram app to send our homework and explain the lessons to us. It’s a good alternative, but I really miss going to school, our teachers and my friends.”
Kaspar, student, Estonia
"Never lose hope, be strong and take care of yourself. We’ll defeat the virus together.”
Marieta, teacher, Spain
"The impact of the quarantine has not been devastating to our students yet. We have an extremely dedicated staff, who are working from home daily, and who are creating a collaborative virtual classroom."
Aseel, parent of high school student, Iraq
"This year is terrible globally for my son as school is closed, the future is uncertain! This is the year where he should select the college he wants to attend, but nothing is clear for the moment."
Ankhtuya, teacher, Mongolia
"My students are in the 12th grade, so they are extremely worried about taking the General Entrance Exam. I miss my students a lot and my students have also expressed their desire to return to school."
Aicha, school coordinator, Kuwait
Agustina, 17 year old, Argentina