Cenia Elizabeth Muñoz and her spouse, Angel, were afraid of becoming mere statistics of the widespread gang violence in their native El Salvador. They would switch off their lights every evening and hide from the gang members that operated nearby their house, as their lives were always at risk. Eventually, they fled the country and arrived in the United Kingdom, just before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, which they credit with having found hope and safety again.
The couple had built their two-bedroom house in San Pedro Perulapán, a city in the central region of Cuscatlán, hoping one day to have children. However, gangs had gradually taken over the city, making it impossible for the couple to feel safe. They would control who came and went, asking for identification cards, and threatened to harm or even kill anyone they deemed to be a rival gang member.
The couple arrived in the United Kingdom in early 2020 to seek asylum and were taken to Cardiff, where they were shifted between nine different hotels. Despite having to deal with the isolation that came with Covid-19 lockdowns, they were happy knowing they were safe and focused their attention on their hopes for the future. They eventually settled in Reading in a small studio flat, where they were able to get back on their feet and took online English courses, which helped them learn the language to find jobs.
Cenia Elizabeth had given up her dream of becoming a teacher in El Salvador and was working in a call center. However, in the UK, she took a 12-week course to help people without qualifications ‘bridge the gap’ into higher education, which gave her the confidence to pursue her ambition of teaching Spanish to children. The couple’s asylum claim was eventually accepted last year, and they were granted refugee status, allowing them to work.
Despite still facing challenges in their daily lives, Cenia Elizabeth and Angel are filled with hope and grateful that they can live in a safe country like the United Kingdom. They feel that the country has embraced them and extended a friendly hand, and they now feel like they are part of a community. Cenia Elizabeth is studying for an English language qualification and looking for part-time work, while her husband works as a delivery driver
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