My Story

NE2414

Zona 5, where your child lives, is located in a slum area of Guatemala City. 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 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.

Hello! My name is Esmeralda Carolina Fuentes Guzman. I was born on November 25, 2014 and I am 4 years old. I am in good health and I attend the Zone 5 feeding program. My father’s name is Iram Manaces Fuentes Ardiano. Unfortunately, he is unable to work because he had a motorcycle accident and lost his vision in one eye. My mother’s name is Carmen Adriana Guzman and she tends a small bakery. We are a needy family, so the feeding program is a huge blessing for us. We own the house in which we live. It has two medium size rooms. The walls are part cement block and part adobe with a tin roof. The floor is part cement and part dirt. We have electricity, but we do not have running water. I have two brothers and two sisters. I do not go to school yet because I am still young, so I spend my time playing with my dolls, toy dishes, coloring and watching television. My favorite colors are green and orange, and my favorite animals are birds. The foods that I like to eat the most are fried meat, beans and rice. My family attends a church called “Lamb of God”.

With much love and many blessings,

Esmeralda Carolina Fuentes Guzman

Translated by: Edwina Lyons/AAC Missionary