Lending a helping hand: Nethra, 13, one of the children who took part in the UNICEF-UNFPA study, and her sibling helping their younger neighbour to study. Photo: UNICEF
A study by Unicef and UNFPA reveals that low-income urban families - although deeply impacted by the pandemic and need help urgently - are more resilient and responsible than most think: they just want the chance to earn a living for themselves and to live a life of dignity.
Ten children from B40 families living in low-cost flats in Kuala Lumpur were given a smartphone each and asked to document, through photos and videos, their lives during the Covid-19 pandemic and movement control order (MCO) from their perspective.
Dignity, not pity
Lending a helping hand: Nethra, 13, one of the children who took part in the UNICEF-UNFPA study, and her sibling helping their younger neighbour to study. Photo: UNICEF
UNICEF Malaysia's chief of social policy Stephen Barrett. Photo: The Star/Samuel Ong
Malaysia's UNFPA representative Marcela Suazo. Photo: The Star/Samuel Ong
DM Analytics managing director Dr Muhammed Abdul Khalid. Photo: The Star/Samuel Ong
Malaysia's UNICEF representative Dr Rashed Mustafa Sarwar. Photo: The Star/Samuel Ong
Family matters, as seen through the eyes of 13-year-old Batrisyah, one of the 10 children who participated in the Unicef-UNFPA study. Batrisyah photographs her grandfather’s birthday celebration at home in the PPR flats in Seri Semarak, KL. Photo: UNICEF
Learning together: Taufiq, 13, one of the 10 children who participated in the UNICEF-UNFPA study, helps his younger sister read and study at home. Photo: UNICEF
Ashariah, 13, one of the children who participated in the UNICEF-UNFPA study, photographs her mother doing her routine grocery shopping. Photo: UNICEF
Hanson, 13, one of the 10 children who participated in the UNICEF-UNFPA study, photographs his father cooking dinner for the family at home. Photo: UNICEF
Khadijah, 13, one of the children who participated in the UNICEF-UNFPA study, photographs her mother doing grocery shopping and buying eggs, the cheapest source of protein. Photo: UNICEF
Ashariah, 13, one of the children who participated in the UNICEF-UNFPA study, photographs her sister studying at home using her own handphone. Photo: UNICEF
Ashariah, 13, one of the children who participated in the UNICEF-UNFPA study, photographs her sister studying at home. Photo: UNICEF
Hanson, 13, one of the children who participated in the UNICEF-UNFPA study, photographs his younger brothers playing together in the corridor with a scooter. Photo: UNICEF
Acip, 13, one of the children who participated in UNICEF-UNFPA's study, photographs his younger cousins, one helping the other put on a mask. Photo: UNICEF
Acip, 13, one of the children who took part in the UNICEF-UNFPA study, photographs his grandmother and uncle at home during the MCO. Photo: UNICEF
Hanson, 13, one of the children who took part in the UNICEF-UNFPA study, photographs his younger brothers eating the lunch cooked by him. Photo: UNICEF
Sara, 13, one of the children who took part in the UNICEF-UNFPA study, photographs her whole family having lunch together. Photo: UNICEF
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