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.

Hello! My name is Emili Roxana Jacinto Guaran, and I greet you fondly, hoping you are doing well wherever you are. Before telling you about myself, I want you to know that my paternal aunt, Evelin Adriana Jacinto Pachel, helped me to give all this information to an AAC secretary. I was born on October 17, 2013. I am in third grade, and my favorite color is purple. By God’s grace, I am doing well. I love eating fried chicken, and my favorite pets are dogs. The people who I live with are my parents and oldest brother. I do not have sisters. My family is doing well, but my brother has had walking issues since he was younger. Because of a lack of money, my parents have not taken him to a specialist to treat his condition. My father’s name is Justo Elias Jacinto Pachel. He makes a living as a baker for other people. His salary is about Q3500=$446.65 monthly. My mother’s name is Sara Maria Guaran Yuca. She works as a cashier in the bakery and earns about Q700=89.33 monthly.

My family and I attend Foursquare Church in our town. We live with paternal grandparents, one of my aunts, and her children. My aunt is a single mother. The house belongs to my grandparents. It has three rooms, but my family and I use only one. There is a separate kitchen, and we share it with the rest of our extended family. We also share the payment for electricity and running water. The walls and roof are made of tin sheets, and the floors are dirt. We raise some chickens at home. Some of our needs are clothes, shoes, and food. The feeding program is near my home. My brother and I usually walk 10 minutes from our house to get there. I hope to hear from you soon. Until it happens, I send you a lot of kisses and hugs. See you later!

From the bottom of my heart,

Emili Roxana Jacinto Guaran

Translated by: Hillary Popol / AAC Secretary / Antigua Guatemala