My Story

Chuchuca, 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 more than a two hour walk to the nearest market town of Zacualpa.  Chuchuca is a farming area where corn and black beans, the staple elements in their diet, are the major corps. 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.

My name is Eduardo Roderico Quino de la Cruz and it is a pleasure to tell you a little bit about me. I was born on February 5^th, 2011 in Pacoc. I live in Chuchuca with my grandmother Rufina and one brother. We are members of the Prince of Peace Church. I am a healthy boy and currently a second-grade student. In my free time, I enjoy playing football, toy cars, marbles and spinning tops. My favorite color is red, and my favorite animal is the peacock. I love to eat fried chicken. My parents´ names are Elias and Sonia, and they are both mostly working at the coast because they own a tortilla shop. They usually come to visit us every 3 months and give us some economical help. My brother and I stay under the care of my grandmother Rufina. Thankfully, we live in our own house made of adobe and a tin sheet roof. There are three rooms and a kitchen but there is no electricity or running water. For that reason, we mostly stay in my grandmother´s house. Her house has three rooms, one kitchen, electricity, running water and a concrete floor. My brother and I do not travel to the coast. We like to attend the feeding program, and my grandmother usually takes us. Nevertheless, we are not attending now since it is closed due to the pandemic. Well, thank you very much for taking time to read this. I send you my love and best wishes.

Greetings and hugs,

Eduardo Roderico Quino de la Cruz

Translated by: Mireya Barahona de Sandoval, AAC Secretary / Antigua