Covid 19 By Euma

We extend our warmest and proudest congratulations to Cristina, a dedicated member of The Voice of Domestic Workers, for becoming one of the finalists in the International Domestic Workers Federation’s (IDWF) “Voices for Change” art contest held as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Cristina’s recognition is not only a personal achievement, but also a powerful moment for every domestic worker whose stories, struggles, and strength deserve to be seen and honored.

One of the featured works in this campaign, “Covid 19” by Euma, stands as more than an artwork, it is a memorial, a cry, and a testament all at once. Through this striking piece, Euma honours the pain, loss, and extraordinary resilience of domestic workers during one of the most devastating periods in our recent history. While much of the world clapped from balconies for “heroes,” countless domestic workers were quietly losing their jobs, their income, their security and many lost their lives often without social protection, recognition, or the safety nets others relied on.

For domestic workers, the pandemic was not just a global crisis; it was a slow and silent unraveling of stability. Many were confined indoors with employers for weeks or months, working longer hours under immense pressure, and in far too many cases, facing increased violence behind closed doors. Others were suddenly dismissed, left stranded and invisible in the emptied streets of lockdown. Families waited oceans away with worry heavy in their hearts, unsure if their loved ones would make it through. The world rarely saw this suffering but artists like Euma captured it, preserved it, and refused to let it fade.

Within her artwork lies a deep stillness. A quiet grief that speaks louder than any headline. But beneath that grief is another truth, the unbreakable strength of survival. Domestic workers continued caring for the vulnerable, the elderly, and the sick even as they fought their own fear. They sent whatever they could back home, even from nearly empty pockets. They held on, with hands that worked tirelessly, because hope was their only choice. “Covid 19” reminds us that domestic workers were frontline workers too. Essential not just in what they did, but in who they are. Their courage, their sacrifices, and their resilience belong at the centre of every conversation about justice.

Through the Voices for Change contest, memories like these live on so they are never forgotten. We honour those who struggled. We uplift those who survived. We remember those who didn’t make it home. And we continue to organise until every domestic worker is guaranteed rights, protection, and dignity. This artwork is not only a tribute, it is a call. A call for rights. A call for protection. A call for dignity.

So that the next crisis never silences them again. So that no domestic worker is left behind. So that their strength is not only admired, but fiercely defended. Cristina, we celebrate you. Your achievement amplifies the voices of so many. Your courage and creativity shine a light on stories the world must keep remembering. Congratulations your work inspires us all to keep fighting for justice. To see the full list of winners and celebrate their incredible work, please visit idwfed.org

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