My Story

Chuchuca, where your child lives, 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. Chuchuca 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 Sandra Emiliana Morente Garcia and I am so happy to share my information with you through this letter. I was born on April 11, 2019. I am in first grade and what I like most is coloring. My favorite color is purple and I like chickens. I love having eggs with beans on my meals. I live with my parents and two sisters. We are all in good health and attend a Christian Church. I am so happy to be part of the feeding program because I can enjoy my meals alongside my young sister, who is already enrolled. We usually walk for one hour and a half to get there. My mother usually accompanies us. Her name is Marta Garcia Gomez and she is a housewife. In addition, she weaves and sell typical clothes to contribute to the expenses.

My father’s name is Arnoldo Morente Luis and he works as a farmer. He also travels to the coast to work in whatever he can find to earn an extra income and cover our needs. Most of them are groceries. We do not own a house, but my paternal uncle allows to live in his house. It is made of adobe with tile roof and dirt floor. It has two rooms, a separate kitchen, and electricity. Thankfully, there is a nearby spring from where we can get water. We are glad because we have enough space at home to raise sheep. It is time to say goodbye, but I send you all my best wishes.

From the bottom of my heart,

Sandra Emiliana Morente Garcia

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Guatemala