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 Perla Elizabeth Ruiz Jerez and I am glad to tell you a little bit about my life through this letter. I was born on July 10, 2010. I was in second grade about four years ago. I no longer study because I help my mom to take care of my younger siblings and do the chores. I have two brothers but no sisters. My favorite pastime is watching TV programs like “La familia peluche” (it is a Latin American TV program). I love eating Bolognese pasta, my favorite color is pink, and I love rabbits. As for health, let me tell you that I tend to suffer from bronchitis. At the moment, I am stable. My father’s name is Natalio Ruiz Popol. Besides knowing my mom, he already had his own family. He lived with my mom and me for about six years. Unfortunately, my parents had problems, so my father left us. Now, he lives with his first family. He does not help me economically. My mother’s name is Maria Elizabeth Jerez Ordonez. She works in “Faico Farm” in our town. She picks macadamias and fertilizes the plants to support my siblings and me. 

Thanks to her job, we can live on a piece of land that belongs to the farm. One of my uncles and his own family live with us too. The house has one room; its walls and roof are made of tin sheets, and the floors are dirt. There is no kitchen, so my mom prepares our meals in an improvised kitchen behind the room. We have electricity and running water. My uncle pays for those services. Let me tell you that one of our greatest needs is to change the tin sheet roof because water leaks inside the room. My family and I do not attend any church at the moment. I hope to do it soon. My siblings and I enjoy having my meals at the feeding program. Therefore, we usually walk for fifteen minutes to get there. To end this letter, I want you to know that my neighbor, Ligia Poron, helped me to give all this information to an AAC secretary. I say goodbye to you now, but I appreciate that you took the time to read my letter. 

With much love,

Perla Elizabeth Ruiz Jerez

Translated by: Hillary Popol / AAC Secretary / Antigua Guatemala