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.

It is a great blessing to say hello to you through this letter. My name is Delmar Omar Toledo Jerez, and I just turned 4 years old. Before telling you more about my life, I want you to know that my older sister helped me write this letter. I was born on August 1, 2020. Thankfully, I am in good health. I do not attend school because of my age. However, I hope to be able to study soon. My favorite pastime is playing soccer with my siblings. I have two brothers and two sisters. My favorite color is blue, I like cats, and my favorite food is black beans. My father is Mateo Pascual Toledo Mateo. He makes a living as a farmer and does his best to support our family with his income. On the other hand, my mom dedicates her full time to taking care of our family. Her name is Iris Yaneth Jerez Mixiya. We are a humble family and one of our greatest needs is food. 

We live in a borrowed land. The owner allows us to live there for free because he wants us to look after his property. The house’s walls and roofs are made of tin sheets while the floors are dirt. It has two rooms, a separate kitchen, electricity and running water. My father pays the bills for the services monthly. We have one dog and two cats at home as pets. My mom likes chickens and raises a few at home for our consumption. I am glad to be part of the feeding program because I can have delicious food for free. The project is a thirty-minute walk from where I live. To end this letter, I tell you that we do not attend any church at the moment. See you later!

Kind regards,

Delmar Omar Toledo Jerez

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Antigua Guatemala