My Story

Jocotenango, where your child lives, is in the state of Sacatepéquez, Guatemala and is a suburb of Antigua. It is an urban environment and is inhabited by both Quiché Indians and Ladinos (those with mixed European ancestry). Most of the children attend school, but financial hardship affects many families and forces most of the children to leave after the sixth grade. Only one out of ten children finish high school. Children in this area face temptations from gangs and drugs.

Hello! My name is Dayana Sofia Rogel Perez. I want to tell you a little about me. Thankfully, I am in good health. I was born on March 8, 2018, so I am 7 years old. I am attending school, and I am in 1st grade. I like playing with my dolls. My favorite color is purple, and I love rabbits. I enjoy eating Chow Mein. I have one brother and one sister, and they are registered at the feeding program too. My family and I attend the Catholic Church. My father’s name is Victor Manuel Rogel Rodriguez, and my mother’s name is Brenda Elizabeth Perez Duarte. My dad works as a taxi driver while my mother tends the small grocery store that we have at home.

We do not have our own house, so we are renting one; we pay Q 800.00 quetzals (about $107.00) per month. The house has 2 rooms made of concrete block and drywall with a tin sheet roof and concrete floor; we cook outdoors. We have running water and electricity service, and my parents pay these bills. We have one dog as a pet. I walk for 8 minutes to arrive at the feeding program, and my family and I are so grateful for having the opportunity to be registered in it. In this occasion, my mother helped me to give my information to an Evangelism teacher, and I hope you find my letter interesting. Please keep me in your prayers.

With much love

Dayana Sofia Rogel Perez

Translated by: Loyda de Osorio, AAC Secretary-Antigua