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 am glad to write this letter telling you a little about my life. This is Brittany Mishel Pineda Siguenza. I was born on December 3, 2014. I am now 10 years old and I am a fourth-grade student. In my free time, I enjoy drawing, playing dolls and memory games. My father is Eduardo Ruben Pineda Sifuentes, but he does not live with us because he has another family. He helps with my expenses only when he wants, so I do not have more information about him. My mother is Emily Yomara Siguenza Perez. She earns a living by selling fried chicken and French fries. I have one sister who attends the feeding program too. We are members of a Christian Church Evangelio Completo.

We live in a rented house made of block walls, tin sheets and concrete floor; my mother pays Q 900.00 quetzals ($ 120.00) monthly. The house has two rooms, but we only use one of them and the other one we use as a kitchen. We have running water and electricity. Our greatest needs are school supplies and groceries. I walk about 20 minutes to get to the feeding program. I say goodbye for now looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Warms hugs,

Brittany Mishel Pineda Siguenza

Translated by: Lucia Gravez/AAC Secretary