My Story

Duenas, 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 Duenas is quiet and sometimes difficult.

I greet you excitedly, hoping you find my story engaging. Before doing it, I want you to know that my mom helped me to give all this information to an AAC secretary. My name is Melvin Joaquin Chitic Yllecas and I am a healthy boy. I was born in Antigua Guatemala on April 27, 2018. I am still young and because of that, I do not attend school. My favorite hobbies are playing with my toy cars and the Tom Cat app on my mom’s phone. My favorite color is blue, I love doggies, and my favorite dish is pizza. I live with my biological parents and siblings. I have one brother and three sisters. My father’s name is Melvin Jeremias Chitic Arana. He does his best to support our family by riding his pedicab here in Dueñas. My mother’s name is Nancy Veronica Yllescas Perez. She keeps busy doing the chores and watching over my siblings and me.

We attend Foursquare Church on Sundays. We live in a rented house. My father pays Q500=$63.76 per month. This includes the payment of electricity and running water. The house has four rooms, but we can only use one. The house belongs to my paternal grandma. She lives there with my cousins and their families. To prepare our meals, we must do it in the hallway, outside our room. The walls are made of blocks with tin sheet roof and ceramic floors. We are a big family, and the room is small for us. Therefore, two of my sisters have to sleep with my grandma. My parents are looking for a larger space. However, our economic situation is complicated. One of our needs is to have a new bed. My siblings and I usually walk for 30 minutes from our house to get to the feeding program. This is all for now about my life, but I would like to hear from you. I hope it might be possible soon. 

In the name of Jesus,

Melvin Joaquin Chitic Yllescas

Translated by: Hillary Popol /AAC Secretary / Antigua Guatemala