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 corps. 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.

Hello! My full name is Yeferson Brayan Elisander Simaj Tzoy and I was born in Zacualpa, Quiche on March 25, 2018. My father`s name is Maynor Simaj Simaj and my mother`s name is Aura Tzoy Toj. She dedicates her time to the housework duties, and she also raises hens to sell when she has an economic need. She would like to have some chicks because we have enough space for them in the house. My father is living and working in a grocery store from Escuintla town. He returns to our home for three months and he takes advantage of this to work as a day laborer in our village to earn extra money to sustain us. I have two brothers and one sister, and my two brothers are registered in the Feeding Program. My mother accompanies us to the Feeding Program, and we walk one hour and a half to come because we take our lunch at the local school from Pasojoc I.

Thankfully, my family and I are in good health. I am 8 years old. I am in 1^st grade this year. I like to play soccer. I love the color red and to eat fried chicken. My favorite animal is the pig. We live in our paternal grandparent`s house, and my grandparents, my uncles and cousins also live there. We have two rooms and one separated kitchen. The rooms are made of adobe walls, tin sheet roof and dirt floor. We have running water and electricity. My grandparents pay for the services. The electricity is paid once a month and they pay the water service yearly. We are a needy family, so our current needs are groceries. At the moment, we are not persevering in any church. This was my personal information and thank you for reading it. I send you every kind of blessing!

Lots of love,

Yeferson Brayan Elisander Simaj Tzoy

Translated By: Gladys de Catavi, AAC Secretary-Antigua