NE2438

Zona 5, where your child lives, is located in a slum area of Guatemala City. An extremely poor area, our program is squeezed in among the shanty dwellings built over an old city dump. Many houses in this area are without toilets or running water and are assembled with scrap wood, sheet metal, and cardboard. Zone 5 is considered one of the most dangerous areas of Guatemala City. It is controlled by gangs and drug pushers. Robberies and murders are common in this area. Public education is available - however, many cannot afford it. Life in Zone 5 is very difficult.

Hello! My name is Brandon David Cardenas Giron. I was born on May 7, 2010 and I am 8 years old. I am in good health and I attend the Zone 5 feeding program. My father’s name is Julio Adolfo Cardenas Morales. Sadly, he is an alcoholic and abandoned us about five years ago and established a relationship with another woman. He is a vendor of different types of products (candies or refreshments), and each weekend, he gives us a little bit of money to help with our expenses. My mother’s name is Rosa Patricia Giron Alvarez and she sells ¨Granizadas y gelatinas¨ (shaved ice with fruit flavor and jelly). We live in one room of the house that belongs to my grandparents. The walls of the house are made of cement blocks and tin sheet metal. The roof is tin, and the floor is cement. We have electricity and running water. At the end of the month, we split all of the expenses with my grandparents. I have one brother, and I am in the 3^rd grade this year. When I am not in school, I spend my time playing with my toy cars, drawing, coloring and watching television. My favorite color is blue, and my favorite animal is the dog. The foods that I like to eat the most are fish, rice, beans and cheese. My family attends a church.

With much love and many blessings,

Brandon David Cardenas Giron

Translated by: Edwina Lyons/AAC Missionary