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 am glad to greet you in the name of Jesus. I am Fatima Peniel Soto Xar. I was born on October 22, 2017. I am 7 years old. I am a first-grade student. I enjoy jumping rope in my free time. I love pink and my favorite animal is the dog, so we have one at home. The food that I like the most is pizza. I live only with my mother Helen Ylina Soto Xar. She struggles to support us by working as a cook in a house for other people. My father did not legally recognize me or take responsibility for me, and I do not know anything about him. There are four of us children. Three of us are enrolled in the feeding program. My siblings and I are under the care of my older sister, Genesis, while my mother goes to work. Thanks to God, my family and I are fine. We do not attend any church.

We live in a rented house made of block walls, tin sheet roof and concrete floor with running water and electricity; my mother pays Q 800.00 quetzals ($ 106.00) monthly. She pays separately for the services.  We have only one room and we cook there.

Our greatest needs are beds. I walk about ten minutes to get to the feeding program. Thank you for taking the time to read my letter.

Yours very truly,

Fatima Peniel Soto Xar

Translated by: Lucia Gravez/AAC Secretary