My Story

Nueva Esperanza, which means New Hope, is located in a slum area of Guatemala City, Guatemala. An extremely poor area, our program is squeezed in among the shanty dwellings built over an old city dump. Many houses in this area are without toilets or running water and are assembled with scrap wood, sheet metal, and cardboard. Zone 5, where Nueva Esperanza is located, is considered one of the most dangerous areas of Guatemala City. It is controlled by gangs and drug pushers. Robberies and murders are common in this area. Public education is available - however, many cannot afford it. Life in Zone 5 is very difficult.

Hello! I feel so happy to be part of the feeding program and have the opportunity to write this letter telling a little about me. My name is Felix Abel Calderas Reyes, I will turn 9 years on September 10, 2016. I am a second-grade student and I am in good health. The things that I like the most to do are: painting, drawing and play toy cars.  My favorite color is red and I like cats. A delicious dish for me is beef patties with noodles. I am a healthy boy. I do not know anything about my biological father. He did not legally recognize me; he does not keep in touch with me nor help me in any way. My mother is Iris Emilsa Calderas Reyes; she spends time taking care of us. She has a relationship with Ruben Aguilar Escobar who has been my stepfather for about four years. He works digging gravel. My older brother Fredy Reyes helps my mother to cover our expenses too. I have two brothers. We are members of a Catholic church called “Padre Chemita”.

We live in a rented house made of block walls, tin sheets and concrete floor; my brother and stepfather pay Q 800.00 quetzals ($ 106.00) monthly. The house has two rooms, but we only use one of them and the other one we use as a kitchen. We have running water and electricity. Our greatest needs are school supplies and uniforms. I walk about 30 minutes to get to the feeding program. Thank you for taking the time to read my letter.

Many blessings,

Felix Abel Calderas Reyes

Translated by: Lucia Gravez/AAC Secretary