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. This child lives on top of an old rubbish dump in Zone 5 of Guatemala City. It is an extremely dangerous area where criminals, prostitutes and drug addicts live.

Hello! This is Dannia Vannesa Lopez Gomez. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part from the feeding program. I turn 6 years old this year, and my birth date is October 25, 2019. This year, I am attending school, and I am in Pre-kindergarten. I enjoy playing dolls, toy dishes and painting. I love the color pink, and my favorite animal is the dog, so I have three at home. I like to eat eggs and beans. I live only with my mother and my brother because my father abandoned us many years ago. My mother is Sofia Maribel Gomez Arriaza. She does her best to cover our needs working as domestic employee. My father is Edgar Roberto Lopez Carrera, he works as a mason helper, but he does not help in any way or communicate with us. I would like to ask for your prayers, as my parents' separation has been very difficult for me. My brother and I stay under care of my grandmother while my mother goes to work. Thanks to God, we are in good health. We attend the Catholic church. We live in a rented house made of block, tin sheet roof, concrete floor. There are two rooms, separate kitchen. We do not have running water or electricity, a neighbor shares with us these services and my mother pay to him. My mother pays for rent Q. 500.00 quetzales ($ 94.00) monthly. Our mean needs at the moment are groceries, shoes, clothing and a bunk bed. I walk about 20 minutes from home to the feeding program. I say goodbye to you for now. 

With much love,

Dannia Vannesa Lopez Gomez.

Translated by: Lucia Gravez/AAC Secretary