JT2476

Jocotenango, where your child lives, is in the state of Sacatepéquez, Guatemala and is a suburb of Antigua.  It is an urban environment and is inhabited by both Quiché Indians and Ladinos (those with mixed European ancestry).  Most of the children attend school, but financial hardship affects many families and forces most of the children to leave after the sixth grade.  Only two out of ten children finishes high school.  Children in this area face temptations from gangs and drugs.

Hello! My name is Oscar Eliazar Godinez Morales. I attend the Jocotenango Feeding Program. I was born on January 16^th, 2014. I am 4 years old and I am in good health. I do not attend school because I am still young, but I like to color drawings. I have three favorite colors and they are yellow, red and green. I enjoy playing with my toy cars and balls. I also love to dance.  My favorite animal is the parrot. My favorite food is fried chicken with rice and black beans. I also love to eat bread, but my grandparents only buy it for me when they have the money. My mother’s name is Kelly Eliza Godinez Morales, she is 23 years old and she is a girl with special needs. She is also registered in the feeding program. My mother and I live with my maternal grandparents. I love and consider my grandfather as my father because my biological father is in jail and he does not support us. My grandfather is who struggles to support us by working as a farmer; but unfortunately, it is not a stable job. I enjoy going to the fields with my grandfather. My grandmother contributes a little bit to our family income by working in a place where they make and sell Guatemala typical food in Antigua City. My mother is not able to work due to her disability, but she takes care of me and plays with me. We live in my grandparents’ house and it has running water and electricity. The house has two rooms made of concrete block with a tin sheet roof, concrete floor and a separate kitchen. My family and I attend a Catholic church. We live about 30 minutes by bus from the feeding program.

With much love and many blessings,

Oscar Eliazar Godinez Morales

Translated by: Lidia Vásquez / AAC Guatemala

AAC Note: It is very sad to inform you that Oscar’s biological father is his mother’s uncle. Unfortunately, the uncle took advantage of her condition and he raped her when she was alone at home with him and she got pregnant. Oscar’s grandparents reported him to the police and they sentenced him to several years in prison.