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. Life in Zone 5 is very difficult. Some children live on top of an old rubbish dump in Zone 5 of Guatemala City. It is an extremely dangerous area where criminals, prostitutes and drug addicts live.

I am pleased to be able to greet you and tell you about myself today. My full name is Livana Maria Fernanda Centeno. I was born on September 5, 2018. I am already 8 years old. I have two brothers. I enjoy playing puzzles, jumping rope, modeling clay and jax. I am in first grade this year. I love dogs and cats. My favorite colors are red and pink. The meals I love the most are pizza and rice and beans. My mother was Jeanneth Maricel Centeno. Unfortunately, she passed away in 2024 due to alcoholism. Since then, I have been living with my aunts Abelina Estrada and Emma Centeno; they are humble people and do not earn very much. They work cleaning houses three times a week and earn Q40.00 ($5.00) each time. My aunt Emma suffers from high blood pressure and diabetes; she receives medical care in the health center. However, there are times when there are not enough medicines for all the people. I am quite well; however, I get sick easily with a dramatic climate change.

About my brothers, well, my younger brother is at PGN because my mother was not responsible for him, and they took him for protection. My older brother is 16 years old, and he works as an assistant in a moving truck. He does not earn very much, but he helps my aunts a little bit. We live in my aunt’s property. There are three rooms made of adobe with a tin sheet roof and a cement floor. My aunts have improved a small area to cook outside because of a lack of space. It is very simple but helpful. We have water and electricity, and my aunts pay for them every month. Our pet is a cat. We are a humble and needy family; our greatest needs are groceries, a bed, a stove, footwear and school support. Let me tell you, I am so grateful to be enrolled in the feeding program, and I walk for 15 minutes to get there. It is a blessing to know someone who may want to know about me. May God bless you wherever you go!

Lots of love,

Livana Maria Fernanda Centeno

Translated by: Violeta Hernandez, A-A-C Secretary-Antigua