My Story

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

Hello! It is a big blessing to write and share my personal information with you. Thank you for your interest in me. My name is Juan Emanuel Garcia Perez. I am 6 years old and I was born on February 4, 2020, in Zacualpa Quiche. I am in 1^st grade at school. My hobby is playing soccer. I like dogs, and my favorite color is blue. I like eating eggs. My health is good thanks to God. I have 1 brother and 2 sisters with whom I attend the feeding program. My mother takes us every time because we have to walk for 45 minutes to get there.

My parent´s names are Hector Garcia Toj and Ana Morelia Perez de la Cruz. My mother is a housewife, but she helps economically with the house expenses by weaving typical napkins. On the other hand, my father works by tending a grocery store. Some of our necessities now are food and clothes. Thankfully, they are both healthy. We attend the Catholic Church.

We live in our own humble house. My paternal grandmother lives with us. The house has two rooms and a separate kitchen. It has a tin sheet roof, adobe walls and cemented floor. We have electricity and we pay monthly for the service. We get water for our use through a hose from a nearby river. Our domestic animals are sheep, pigs and chickens. Well, I appreciate your time. I have to say goodbye for now, but not before blessing you in the name of God. Take care!

Sincerely yours,

Juan Emanuel Garcia Perez

Translated by: Mireya de Sandoval, AAC Secretary / Antigua