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! This is Rony Gustavo Marcos Ramirez, and I am so happy to introduce myself through this letter. I was born on August 29, 2011. Fortunately, I am a healthy 13-year-old boy. My favorite pastime is playing soccer with my friends. I am in fourth grade and everything goes well at school. My favorite color is red, I love eating beef steak, and my favorite animal is the lion. Now, I will tell you a little about my family. I have four brothers and two sisters. My father is Marcos Marcos Francisco. He makes a living as a farmer to support our family. On the other hand, my mom keeps busy doing the household chores. Her name is Juana Ramirez Andres.

Let me tell you that my sister-in-law, Manuela Pedro Cristobal, helped me to write this letter to you. She and her children live with us. Unfortunately, my brother abandoned them a few years ago. My whole family and I are members of the Catholic Church in Duenas town. We live in a rented house, which is a ten-minute walk from the feeding program. We pay Q700=$90.52 monthly. Thankfully, the rent payment also covers the electricity and running water bills. The house’s walls and roofs are made of tin sheets with dirt floors. It has two rooms, a separate kitchen, electricity and running water. We raise six chickens at home for our consumption. To end this letter, I beg you to pray for my family and our needs. One of our greatest needs is food. See you later!

Cordiality yours,

Rony Gustavo Marcos Ramirez

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Antigua Guatemala