How Did You Survive?

How Did You Survive? records the objects and personal rituals that helped people returning home after job loss adjust to a new life back home.

With the advent of covid 19 and the subsequent shutdown of many countries at the beginning of 2020, some Zimbabweans living and working outside the country found themselves suddenly unemployed and facing the hard decision of returning home as they could no longer afford to sustain themselves. How Did You Survive? records the objects and personal rituals that helped some of them survive the journey back home, being in government quarantine and finally adjusting to a new life back home. I photographed objects that they have kept that represent their stories and how they survived/are surviving.

© Cynthia Matonhodze - Image from the How Did You Survive? photography project
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“I treat myself as if I have the virus so I take Zumbani tea daily because I want to make sure that my immune system is healthy.”

© Cynthia Matonhodze - Image from the How Did You Survive? photography project
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“I only have R1 left after I came back from South Africa. I used up all that I had saved to come back home. I couldn’t stay in somebody’s house and I couldn’t pay rent. I was better off, in the event that I got corona, being home and close to people that could take care of me. Unlike just staying in South Africa where you can’t pay rent, you get the virus or you are on the streets.”

© Cynthia Matonhodze - Image from the How Did You Survive? photography project
i

“After working in South Africa I only managed to buy myself a dress before I lost my job and had to return home. That is the dress I came back with. It reminds me the importance of getting an education. If you get an education, you can get a good job and won’t have to work odd jobs at the mercy of anyone.”

© Cynthia Matonhodze - Image from the How Did You Survive? photography project
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“My passport is new. I had never traveled since I got it. Going to work in South Africa was my first experience of travelling outside the country.”

© Cynthia Matonhodze - “I journal and remind myself to be grateful for what each day brings.”
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“I journal and remind myself to be grateful for what each day brings.”

© Cynthia Matonhodze - “I journal and remind myself to be grateful for what each day brings.”
i

“I journal and remind myself to be grateful for what each day brings.”

© Cynthia Matonhodze - Image from the How Did You Survive? photography project
i

“I was worried about coming back home as I did not know what life was going to be like again. Because I had made plans to leave to try and get a better job and then in three months I was back home before time. The only reason I came back was because of the pandemic and all the ships were on standstill and there was no work.”

© Cynthia Matonhodze - Image from the How Did You Survive? photography project
i

“What kept me going was Christian motivational sermons. I listened to them often while I was in the quarantine centre. I still listen to them while I am here at home. They help me get through.”

© Cynthia Matonhodze - “I journal and remind myself to be grateful for what each day brings.”
i

“I journal and remind myself to be grateful for what each day brings.”

© Cynthia Matonhodze - Image from the How Did You Survive? photography project
i

“When I left South Africa I made sure to carry my rainbow scarf with me. It is a reminder that there is always a rainbow after the storm has passed.”

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