My Story

Pasojoc 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.  Pasojoc 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.

Hello, my name is Brenda Riz De La Cruz. I was born on November 10, 2015, and I am 6 years old. I am a healthy girl, and I am not attending school yet due to my age. I keep playing with my dolls at home. I love pink, and I like chicks. My favorite food is fried chicken. I have three sisters. I live about 30 minutes away from the feeding program; my mother and grandmother accompany me to the program. We are attending Prince of Peace Church. My father’s name is Encarnacion Riz De La Cruz, but he no longer lives with us because he established a new relationship with another woman; he does not contribute to my expenses.

My mother’s name is Manuela De La Cruz Jimon, and after my father left us, she established a new family with Mr. Pedro Simaj Toj, so he is now my stepfather. He works as a farmer and day laborer, and in addition, he goes to cut sugar cane at the coast for six months in order to cover our needs. My mother is a housewife and raises hens. We live in my grandparents’ house. My grandpa is in the United States, so my grandma is the only one who lives with us. We have one room in this house which is made of adobe with a tin sheet roof and concrete floor. We have running water and electricity services. This is my personal information, and I hope you can find it interesting.

Blessings and hugs

Brenda Riz De La Cruz

Translated by: Loyda de Osorio/AAC Secretary, Antigua