My Story

Pasojoc is an area located high on the side of a mountain in the state of Quiche, Guatemala. Life in this area is very difficult and very isolated from the outside world. It is more than a two-hour walk to the nearest market town of Zacualpa. Pasojoc is a farming area where corn and black beans, the staple elements in their diet, are the major crops. The Quiche Mayans who inhabit this area trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization. They normally speak a Mayan dialect called Quiche - however, Spanish is becoming more common. Very little money ever changes hands in this area as they live on a barter system.

This is Elida Marina Poncio Garcia and I am happy to share with you my personal information. I was born on February 2, 2016 in Zacualpa, Quiche and I am 9 years old. I am a second grader student. My pastime is to play tag. I love red color and cats. I enjoy eating fried chicken. My father`s name is Roberto Poncio Jimon and my mother`s name is Luciana Garcia Benito de Poncio. My father earns a living by working as a day laborer for others while my mother looks after us, and she raises hens, pigs and cows to sell and earn some money. By the grace of God my parents and I are in good health. I have one brother and three sisters. I come with my cousins to the Feeding Center and we walk about one hour to arrive. We are a needy family and our current needs are groceries and clothing. We attend the Catholic Church and we live in our own house. We have three rooms and one separated kitchen. The rooms are made of adobe walls with tile roof and dirt floors. We have running water and my father pays for it once a year. We also have electricity and the payment is monthly.  We would like to have some chicks at home because we have a special space for them. Thank you for your attention and I hope you like my little story. I send you many blessings!

Warm wishes,

Elida Marina Poncio Garcia

Translated by: Gladys Chavez, AAC Secretary-Antigua