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 greet you in name of Jesus. My name is Ashira Kattaleya Orozco Aguilar. I was born on May 3, 2016. I am now 9 years old. I am a third-grade student. In my free time, I enjoy playing Lottery, painting and running. My favorite color is lilac and I like dogs, at home I have one. I am a healthy child. I have two brothers, but one of them does not live with us because he is son from my mother with another man. Many years ago, my parents decided to separate, so for this reason I live only with my father, brother and other relatives. My father is Antoni Orozco Patzan, and he works in a sport field where he picks up the balls.  My mother is Shairi Edelmira Aguilar, and she works as a cashier in a hotel. She does not live with us, but every weekend, she comes to visit my brother and me. She helps us financially when she can. My paternal grandmother takes care of us while my father goes to work. My family does not attend any church.

We live in a rented house made of block walls, concrete roof and concrete floor. There are four rooms but we only use one of them because other relatives also live there. We do not have a separate kitchen, so we cook in the same room. There are running water and electricity services. My father and our relatives pay for rent including all services Q. 1300 quetzals ($ 174.00) monthly. Our greatest need for now is a pair of shoes for school. I walk about 20 minutes from my house to the feeding program. I hope you like my letter, and I say goodbye for now.

Kisses and hugs,

Ashira Kattaleya Orozco Aguilar

Translated by: Lucia Gravez/AAC Secretary