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.

It is my pleasure to greet you in the name of Jesus hoping you are doing great! My name is Dara Camila Perez Mejia. My birthday is December 17, 2019, and I am now 6 years old. I live happily with my parents. Jose Armando Perez Abrigo is my father. He works as a guard around a soccer field when there are games or some event. It is not a stable job and he does not earn very much. He also collects cans for recycling. He is 57 years old and has found it difficult to find a job. Imelda Roxana Mejia is my mom. She does not have a job and sells candies to get an income and help my father to supply our needs.

I am in kindergarten this year. My favorite meals are eggs and beans. I love playing with my dolls and toy dishes. The animal I like the most is the capybara, and I love the color yellow. Our pets are a dog, a cat and some parakeets. We are attending the Ebenezer Church. Thank God, my father is the owner of the house in which we live. One of my father´s uncles also lives there. We have only one room made of block, a tin sheet roof and a dirt floor. There is no kitchen, so my mom cooks inside the room. We have running water and electricity services. My father and his uncle pay for those services every month. Our greatest needs are groceries and a bed. I am so blessed to be enrolled in the feeding program and I arrive there by walking in 30 minutes. Thank you so much for your beautiful heart for the people in Guatemala like me. I pray to God to bless you wherever you are!

With all my love,

Dara Camila Perez Mejia

Translated by: Violeta Hernandez / A-A-C Secretary-Antigua Guatemala