My Story

Chixocol, where your child lives, is a very small village nestled in a mountain valley in the state of Quiché, Guatemala. Life in this state is very difficult and somewhat isolated from the outside world. Most families live in one-room adobe houses with dirt floors and a small attached kitchen. The extremely poor live in houses made of corn stalks. In the past few years electricity and water have become available to most people in the area - however, indoor plumbing is very rare. Most of the families are farmers or shepherds and live off the fruits of their labors. Public education is available for those who can afford it and consider it of value. Life in Quiché is always a challenge.

Hello! I am very happy to share my information through this. I am Dayra Melisa Chitic Tzoy. My birth date is October 11^th, 2019, and I was born in Zacualpa, Quiche, Guatemala. I am 5 years old and I am in good health. I attend pre-kindergarten this year. I like to play with my dolls and toy dishes. My favorite color is pink and the animal I like the most is the cat. My favorite meal is fried chicken. I am very happy to be part of the feeding program and I walk 30 minutes to arrive there; my mother accompanies me.

My father´s name is Juan Chitic de la Cruz. He works both as a farmer and day laborer for other people in our village. My mother´s name is Julia Tzoy Morente. She stays busy with the housework and raises hens. I live with my parents and two brothers. Thankfully, my loved ones are doing well. We are members of the Emanuel Assembly of God Church. The house in which we live belongs to my maternal grandmother. She lives there and receives economic support from one uncle who is in the United States. So, she contributes to the expenses. There are two adobe rooms; the roof is made of tin sheets, and the floor is part cement and part dirt. The kitchen is separated. We have running water and electricity services; my parents contribute to pay for those services. As a family, our greatest needs are groceries, corn, clothes and footwear. Thank you for reading my letter. I hope you find it interesting. May God bless you!

Warm hugs,

Dayra Melisa Chitic Tzoy

Translated by: Violeta Hernandez, AAC Secretary / Antigua