My Story

Chuchuca, where your child lives, is an area located high on the side of a mountain in the state of Quiché, Guatemala. Life in this area is very difficult and very isolated from the outside world. It is more than a two hour walk to the nearest market town of Zacualpa.  Chuchuca is a farming area where corn and black beans, the staple elements in their diet, are the major corps. The Quiché Indians who inhabit this area trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization. They normally speak an Indian dialect called Quiché - however, Spanish is becoming more common. Very little money ever changes hands in this area as they live on a barter system.

Good morning! I am so excited to introduce myself in this opportunity! My name is Carlos Ruiz Ajqui. I was born on Jan 14, 2018, and I am a 7-year-old boy. I am a first-grade student this year. My hobby is to play football. I love the color red and the animal I like the most is the rabbit. I love eating fried chicken. My mother stays busy with the chores and raises hens and pigs to sell. Her name is Juana Ajqui Simaj. My father struggles to provide for our home needs; he works as a farmer and day laborer. His name is Juan Ruiz Mendez. I have one brother and two sisters. I am so happy because my family and I are in good health.

My family and I attend Church of Christ. We do not have our own house, and fortunately, my grandparents allow us to live with them in their house. My grandpa is a farmer and my grandma is a housewife; my parents share the expenses with them. It is a humble house made of adobe with a tin sheet roof and a cement floor. There are three rooms with a separate kitchen. There is running water and electricity; my parents and grandparents contribute to pay for them. The water is a yearly payment (Q100 about $14.00), and the electricity is a monthly payment. As a family, our greatest needs are groceries and corn. It is a great blessing for me to be registered in the feeding program and receive my meals even though I have to walk two hours to arrive at the program. It is a blessing to know someone may want to know about me. Many and rich blessings over you!

Warm hugs,

Carlos Ruiz Ajqui

Translated by: Violeta Hernandez / A-A-C Secretary-Antigua Guatemala