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 Reiner Adrian Ramos Cabrera, and it is a big pleasure to share my story with you. I was born on February 25, 2013. I am 12 years old. I am in sixth grade. I enjoy playing soccer, hide-and-seek, and watching TV in my free time. My favorite color is purple. I love eating pepián de res (a typical Guatemalan casserole made with tomato sauce, spices, vegetables, and beef). My favorite animals are hawks. Luckily, I am a healthy boy and have a lovely family. My mother’s name is Glenda Veralinda Cabrera Puac. She works in a hardware store called Didisa as an accountant. She is a single parent and does her best to cover all our needs. Our priority is food. We are a Catholic family and attend a nearby church called Mary Helper of Christians.

While my mother is at work, my aunt takes care of me. Her name is Rosa Maria Puac Salvador. As for my biological father, let me tell you that he abandoned my mother and me after I was born, but he recognized me legally. His name is Reiner Ramos Llanes. My mother and I live with my grandparents and aunt. I am an only child in my family. The owner of the house is my grandmother. Her hour is made of concrete blocks with a metal sheet roof and a ceramic floor. It has one room, a separate kitchen, electricity, and running water. My mother contributes to the household expenses. The feeding program is close to my house. I only walk for five minutes to get there. This is all for now, but I hope to hear from you soon.

Special regards,

Reiner Adrian Ramos Cabrera

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary / Antigua Guatemala