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 Petrona Vanesa Garcia Chingo. I was born in Aldea Chuchuca on January 28, 2017, and I am already 7 years old. At school I attend first grade. I enjoy playing football and my stuffed toys. I love rabbits and my favorite color is pink. Fried chicken is the food I like the most. I live with my parents, three brothers and two sisters. My mother is expecting a new baby; she is 7 months pregnant. By the grace of God, we all are doing well. My father is Venancio Garcia Gutierrez. He works both as a farmer and day laborer to provide for our family. My mother is Maria Chingo Gomez. She does the housework and raises hens and sheep to sell and helps my father with the home expenses.

We attend the Catholic Church. The house in which we live belongs to my mother´s brother Mauricio Chingo Gomez; we do not pay anything since he loans us the house. There are four rooms including the kitchen. The house is made of cement blocks, a tile roof and a granite floor. There is running water and electricity; my father pays for electricity every month. What we need the most at home are groceries. I walk 40 minutes to arrive to the feeding program; I like to attend alongside my siblings. I appreciate so much that you are reading my information. I pray to your Lord bless you wherever you go!

Best wishes,

Petrona Vanesa Garcia Chingo

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