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! My name is Dereck Abraham Aleix, Reyes Andrade. I was born on April 1, 2017. I am 8 years old now. I attend school and I am in 2^nd grade. In my free time, I enjoy playing soccer, hide-and-seek and spinning tops. My favorite foods are pizza and hamburger. I love blue and yellow, and I like the cat. My father is Oscar Alberto Reyes Garcia, and he works as a house painter. My mother is Jakeline Vanesa Andrade Samayoa but I do not live with them because they are not responsible for me. So, I have lived with my maternal grandmother, Maria Elena Samayoa, since I was one-year-old. My grandmother struggles to help me with my expenses working as a merchant. She sells underwear and second-hand clothing. Thanks to God, we are in good health. My family does not attend any church.

We live in my great-grandmother’s house. It has four rooms, but we only use one and share the kitchen because my great-grandmother and cousins live with us. The house is made of block, concrete roof and concrete floor. We have running water and electricity. All my family helps to pay the services. At home, we have a cat and dog. Our main needs at the moment are groceries and school shoes. We walk about 15 minutes from home to the feeding program. I say goodbye to you for now.

Many blessings,

Dereck Abraham Aleix, Reyes Andrade

Translated by: Lucia Gravez/AAC Secretary