A work in progress, 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 continues with the studies of adolescents who have dropped out of school and begin education for those who have not attended. It offers three education programs: ABC Literacy, Intensive Basic Education, and Baccalaureate. It is in charge of 8 teachers.
According to the Constitution of Ecuador, these young people have the condition of double vulnerability. The State must guarantee security and education. During the COVID-19 Emergency, their studies have been affected, since having a ban on access to electronic devices or the Internet has complicated learning, they have had to resort to information in outdated books and the help of the person and the guards of the center to doing their homework Teachers have seen as the only option to get out of their quarantine and go once a week to turn in homework, tutor those who need it most in this way without interrupting their studies. Lack of teaching materials and study books make education more precarious. Still, these young people and the center's workers have sought resources and ingenuity to continue their education.
This work is support by National Geographic Emergency Found for Journalist 2020.