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.

Hello! My name is Escarlet Elizabet Arriaza Gomez, and I was born on May 2, 2016. Luckily, I am a healthy 9-year-old girl. I am in third grade. I enjoy painting, drawing, reading fairy tales, and working out. I like the color pink. I love eating black beans and eggs for my meals. Now, let me tell you about my family. I live with my father and grandparents. They are my relatives on my father’s side. My father is Luis Carlos Arriaza Villatoro. He works as a messenger to cover all our needs. Our priorities are shoes, clothes, food, and school supplies. Sadly, my mother does not live with me since she separated from my father. However, she visits me every three months. Her name is Norma Noemi Gomez Real. She already has another family, so she does not help us financially. This was challenging and affected me at the beginning, but my father and grandmother understood and helped me assimilate the situation with love and patience. About siblings, I only have one brother.

My grandmother’s name is Amelia Villatoro. She takes care of me while my father is at work. We are a Catholic family and attend a nearby church called Mary Helper of Christians. The house where my family and I live belongs to one of my uncles. It is made of concrete blocks with a metal sheet roof and a concrete floor. It has two rooms, a separate kitchen, electricity, and running water. My father and grandfather share the household expenses. My favorite animals are cats and dogs. Luckily, we have two dogs, two cats, and one turtle as pets at home. I am glad to be part of the feeding program. It is about 20 minutes away from where I live, so I walk to get there. It is time to say goodbye, but I appreciate you taking the time to read my story. I look forward to hearing yours next time. Have a nice day!

Kisses and hugs,

Escarlet Elizabet Arriaza Gomez

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Antigua Guatemala