During the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru, Castillo attempted to continue teaching his students through lockdowns.[1] His impoverished community, however, did not have the capabilities; almost none of his students had access to a cell phone, and the educational tablets promised by the government never arrived.[10] After experiencing the struggles his students faced over his more than twenty-five years of teaching, Castillo was inspired to enter as a candidate in the presidential election.[10]