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 feel so happy to be able to tell you a little about my life. I am Eliza Berenice Bustamante Barrios. I will turn 9 years old on November 20. I am a healthy boy. I am repeating 1^st grade at school because I did not pass my grade last year. I have speech problems and it is difficult for me to learn. In my spare time, I enjoy playing dolls and ball. My favorite color is purple and I like cats. The food that I like the most is fried chicken and french fries. There are five members in my family. My father, Axel Obed Bustamante Sosa, does his best to support our family by working making backpacks. My mother’s name is Dulce Maribi Barrios Arias, and she stays at home taking care my sisters and me. My sisters are Bitia and Eunice, and they attend the feeding program too. One of our main needs is to change my glasses. My family does not attend any church. 

We live in a rented house. There are two rooms and a separate kitchen made of tin sheet walls, tin sheet roof, concrete floor, and it has running water and electricity. My father pays for rent Q. 500.00 quetzals ($66.00) monthly, and in addition, he pays other home services. We have two cats and three dogs. I walk about 10 minutes to get to the feeding program. Thank you for taking the time to read my letter.

With much love,

Eliza Berenice Bustamante Barrios

Translated by: Lucia Gravez/AAC Secretary