My Story

Nueva Esperanza, which means New Hope, is located in a slum area of Guatemala City, Guatemala. 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, where Nueva Esperanza is located, 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! I hope you are keeping well along with your family. I send you warm greetings. This is Kendy Guadalupe Veliz Jimenez, and I was born on June 12, 2019. I am now 5 years old. I am a kindergarten student. In my free time, I enjoy playing dolls and memory games, watching TV and painting. My favorite color is purple and my favorite animal is the dog. I love to eat pizza. I am a healthy child. I would like to tell you that my father abandoned us three years ago, so my mother is the only one who supports our family, and she works selling different kind of products such as: balloons, hair clips, toothbrushes or any product. I have one brother. My family does not attend any church.

We live in our grandmother´s house, and it is made of block, tin sheet roof, concrete floor, with running water and electricity. There are three rooms but we only use one of them because we share the house with my grandmother and aunts. My mother and relatives pay the services. We have two cats at home. Our greatest need is a bunk bed. I walk about 15 minutes from home to the feeding program. I say goodbye for now and I pray God takes care of you.

Kisses and hugs,

Kendy Guadalupe Veliz Jimenez

Translated by: Lucia Gravez/AAC Secretary