My Story

Chuchuca, where your child lives, is an area located high on the side of a mountain in the state of Quiché, Guatemala. Life in this area is very difficult and very isolated from the outside world. It is more than a two-hour walk to the nearest market town of Zacualpa. Chuchuca is a farming area where corn and black beans, the staple elements in their diet, are the major crops. The Quiché Indians who inhabit this area trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization. They normally speak an Indian dialect called Quiché - however, Spanish is becoming more common. Very little money ever changes hands in this area as they live on a barter system.

Hello! This is Lucila Isabel Garcia Calachij. I was born in Zacualpa Quiche on November 15, 2015, and I turned 9 years old this year. This year I attend 2^nd grade at school. I like to help my mother with some chores and then, I like to play with my siblings. My favorite color is red and the animal I love the most is the rabbit. I am so happy eating fried chicken. My mother´s name is Isabel Calachij Garcia. She usually does the chores at home, and she also goes to sell homemade ice cream on the street twice a week to add income. Moreover, she raises hens, sheep and pigs. My father´s name is Juan Garcia Gutierrez. He does farm work in our village to supply all our needs. Our pets are a dog and a cat. Thanks to God, we all are in good health.

We are members of the Catholic Church. Thanks to God, my father is the owner the house in which we live; we have three rooms made of adobe with a tile roof and a dirt floor, and the kitchen is separate. We have running water and electricity; my parents pay for those services. Since we are a big family, our greatest needs are groceries. It is a great blessing for me to be part of the feeding program, I usually go alongside my sister and we walk 30 minutes to arrive there. For now, that is all. Many and abundant blessings over you!

Warm greetings,

Lucila Isabel Garcia Calachij

Translated by: Violeta Hernandez / A-A-C Secretary-Antigua Guatemala