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.

Hello! My full name is Rebeca Arisbeth Lopez Perez, and I am glad to share my story with you. I was born on July 30, 2020. I am a healthy 5-year-old girl. I am in pre-kinder. My favorite animals are cats. I enjoy playing with my dolls, painting, playing with plasticine, and legos. I like the color purple. My favorite food is fried chicken. I am glad because I have a lovely and healthy family. My father’s name is Juan Esteban Lopez Queche. He works as an accountant’s helper. My mother’s name is Cintia Aracely Perez. She is a housewife and takes care of my three brothers and me. I am the only girl in my family. The house where we live is ours, although it legally belongs to my father. It has three rooms, a separate kitchen, electricity, and running water. As for pets, we have one lovely cat as a pet at home. My family and I are Christians and attend a nearby church called Treasures of Grace. I want to share that my mother was part of the feeding program when she was a child. She told me that having her meals and listening to about Jesus was a great blessing for her. She learned good values and now, she is teaching us about them. The feeding program is a 15-minute walk from my house. My brothers and I like having our meals there. It is time to say goodbye, but I hope to hear from you soon. Have a good day!

With love,

Rebeca Arisbeth Lopez Perez

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Antigua Guatemala