Dinner for two... non-existent Christmas parties … and a bit too much loungewear. For many of us, last Christmas was a big departure from the norm, marked by on and off lockdowns and socially distant gatherings. But for many living in countries that were already facing a crisis before the pandemic began, COVID-19 disrupted a lot more than holiday traditions—and many are still struggling to recover.
“Last year, Christmas was like a day of mourning,” says sixteen-year-old Louise in the DRC. Like so many others, the pandemic hasn’t been easy for her family. Being home from school meant that she and her four siblings missed out on a nutritious meal they usually would have received at school. She knew this put pressure on her mum, whose income had already been halved.