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, it is a pleasure to greet you in this opportunity. My name is Vannessa Janina Choc Cuz. I am from a beautiful place called Zone 5, and I feel so happy to be able to be part of the Feeding Program there. My birth date is April 28, so now, I am 10 years old. My family is made up of my father, Hugo Choc Coy, and my mother, Elsa Patricia Cuz Xi. He works as a security police man, while she stays at home doing her household chores and taking care of us. I have one brother and two sisters who live with us. My sister Nilda attends the feeding program too. I am in third grade at school this year. Drawing, painting and putting puzzles together are my favorite things to do. Thanks to God, I am healthy. My favorite color is pink. The rabbit is the animal that I like the most. I love to eat spaghetti.

I live in a rented house made of block walls, tin sheet and concrete floor; my father pays Q 800.00 quetzals ($ 106.00) monthly. The house has four rooms, but we only use one of them because there are more people living in the same house. We do not have a separate kitchen, so we cook in the same room. We have running water and electricity. My father pays these services with the other renters. We do not have any animals due to lack of space. Our main needs are groceries, and we continue praying so that God always provides my father the resources to pay the rent. We attend a Christian church called Huerto de Jehova. I walk about ten minutes to come to the feeding program. I say farewell until the next time.

Best regards,

Vanessa Janina Choc Cuz

Translated by: Lucia Gravez/AAC Secretary