My Story

Chuchuca, where your child lives, is an area located high on the side of a mountain in the state of Quiché, Guatemala. Life in this area is very difficult and very isolated from the outside world. It is more than a two-hour walk to the nearest market town of Zacualpa. Chuchuca is a farming area where corn and black beans, the staple elements in their diet, are the major crops. The Quiché Indians who inhabit this area trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization. They normally speak an Indian dialect called Quiché - however, Spanish is becoming more common. Very little money ever changes hands in this area as they live on a barter system.

Hello! I am Dominga Gomez Benito. My birthdate is June 16, 2019, which makes me 5 years of age now. I was born in Zacualpa Town. This year I am not attending school due to my age. For now, I play with my dolls at home. I like cats and my favorite color is pink. I love eating rice, especially when I get it at the feeding program. I live happily with my father and mother; I have 5 brothers and 4 sisters. Fortunately, we all are in good health. My father´s name is Ramiro Gomez Ruiz. He works both as a farmer and day laborer and he grows black beans to sell and get income. My mother´s name is Maria Benito Hernandez. She is a housewife and raises hens and cows. Additionally, we have a grocery store at home and it helps us to supply all our family needs.

We attend the Church of Christ. The house in which we live belongs to my mother; there are two rooms made of adobe, a tile roof and a cement floor. The kitchen is separate. There is running water and electricity; my father pays for those services. We are a big family and our needs are groceries. I walk 40 minutes to get to the feeding program, I thank God for allowing me to be part of the program. Thank you for reading my letter. Every kind of blessings on you!

Kisses and hugs,

Dominga Gomez Benito

Translated by: Violeta Hernandez / A-A-C Secretary-Antigua Guatemala