My Story

Tunajá is a very primitive area of the state of Quiché, Guatemala.  The inhabitants are Quiché Indians who trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization.  The prevalent language is the Indian dialect - Quiché.  The people are either farmers or shepherds and live off the fruits of their labors.  Very little money ever changes hands as they use a barter system. Public education is available - however, most families cannot afford it.  Electricity and running water are not available in most of the area.  Life in Tunajá is extremely difficult.

Hello! This is Miguel Toj Us, and I hope things turn out well for you. I greet you from Guatemala for the very first time. I would like you to know me a little more, so I will share with you some personal information. I am 7 years old, and I was born on May 14, 2017. I am a healthy boy. My favorite color is red, and I am in the 1^st grade at school. In my free time, I like playing soccer. My favorite dish is scrambled eggs. I have one brother and two sisters with whom I attend the feeding program. We usually walk together for 20 minutes and then take a bus to the program that takes 10 minutes to drive us.

About my family, my father is Felipe Toj Chicoj, and my mother is Rutilia Us Hernandez. My father works as a day laborer and takes sand from the river to sell. My mother is a housewife, but she is also a day laborer and washes clothes for others to contribute with the economy. We attend the Renewal of Christ Church. Thankfully, their health is good. My mother owns the house where we live. It is made of adobe, tin sheet roof and cement floor. There is one room and a separate kitchen. There is no running water, but my aunt shares water with us because she has an artisanal well. We carry the water with gallons for our consumption and to wash the dishes. When we wash our clothes, we must go to the river. My parents only pay for the electricity. Our domestic animals are turkeys and chickens. As a family, our greatest necessities are food and clothes. Well, this is all for now. I thank you for your attention. Finally, I just want to tell you that my mother provided all this information to the LW team. I hope to greet you again soon. I send you my love.

Best regards,

Miguel Toj Us

Translated by: Mireya de Sandoval, AAC Secretary / Antigua