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 so happy to write this to tell you a little about my life. This is Anyelo Emmanuel Balaña Reyes, and I was born on February 22, 2015. I am 10 years old now. I attend school in 4^th grade. I enjoy playing soccer and painting in my free time. My favorite colors are pink and purple. I like the wolf. I love when my mother cooks a typical food from where I live called “Pollo con Coca” (chicken with soda sauce). I live with my mother Amparo Elizabeth Reyes Perez and my sister Vilma. My mother makes an effort to support our family working as a receptionist since my father Anyelo Emmanuel Balaña Tomas abandoned our family many years ago, and we do not have information about him. My sister and I stay at home under yhr care of my grandmother while my mother goes to work. My family and I attend an Ebenezer church. We are in good health.

We live in my grandmother´s house. It is made of block, tin sheet roof and dirt floor. We have running water and electricity. There are two rooms and a separate kitchen. We share it and our expenses with my grandmother and aunt. Our greatest needs at the moment are groceries and the toilet to be repaired. The feeding program is 10 minutes walking from my home. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my letter.

Warm hugs,

Anyelo Emmanuel Balaña Reyes

Translated by: Lucia Gravez/AAC Secretary