My Story

Dueñas, where your child lives, is a small farming village located at the foot of one of Guatemala's active volcanoes, Fuego (Fire). The fertile ground around the village allows for the cultivation of roses and coffee, two of Guatemala's largest exports.  Most of the families in this area live in one or two room wooden or adobe houses with tin roofs.  Electricity is available to those who can afford it.  Running water is available - however, most homes do not have indoor plumbing.  Public education is available for those who can afford it and consider education of value.  Life in Dueñas is quiet and sometimes difficult.

My name is Dulce Fatima Guadalupe Cojolon Paxel, and I am nine years old. I am a healthy girl. I was born on May 11, 2013. I live with my mother, with my half-brother and with my step-father. Sadly, my father separated from my mother about six years ago because he had alcohol problems. My mother takes care of us, and she does the housework. She established a new relationship with another man, and he has lived with us for about three years. He works in a security company, and he helps us to supply our needs. At the moment, we are not attending a church. I am studying, and I am in the third grade at school. I like to play, paint and draw. My favorite colors are read and purple. I like cats and rabbits. I love to eat chow main. We live in a house that belongs to my grandparents, and it is made of block walls, tin sheet roof and concrete floor. We have two rooms; we use one room, and we have a kitchen. We have running water and electricity; my parents pay for both services at the municipality. My grandparents live with us. We have a dog at home. Our basic needs are: groceries. I walk about twenty minutes to attend the feeding program.

With much love and many blessings,

Dulce Fatima Guadalupe Cojolon Paxel

Translated by: Esther Hernández, AAC Secretary/Antigua