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.

It is my pleasure to say hello to you in this opportunity! I am so excited to introduce myself. My name is Erick Santiago Mendoza Vasquez, and my current age is 6 years old. My birthday is November 12, 2019. At school, I am in kindergarten this year. I have two favorite colors, green and orange. I love eating fried chicken. I like dogs. I like to play football, toy cars, watch TV and color. I have two brothers and no sisters. My father is William Jose Mendoza Garcia. He makes a living by delivering medicines for a pharmacy. My mother is Cindy Estefania Vasquez Pineda. She works selling underwear and chocolates in order to help my father with the expenses.

Thank God, my parents and siblings are in good health. As for me, I am well overall, but I suffer from a heart murmur. I have been receiving medical care at IGSS (Guatemalan Social Security Institute). My appointments are every six months and I will have checkups until I turn 17 years old. I had a surgery to put in a lung band, and I was in an intensive care unit for seven months. God has been so faithful with me and my family during this process. I am still waiting for an open-heart surgery, but the doctors will give us the date for it. Please include me in your prayers so everything goes well with my health.

We are attending the Catholic Church. We are living in a rented room and the monthly payment is Q600.00, $80.00. It is a block room with a tin sheet roof and a cement floor. There is running water and electricity services; those are included in the rent. We do not have a kitchen and my mom goes to cook in my grandmother´s kitchen. For now, our greatest needs are groceries and footwear. Thank you so much for your beautiful heart for the people in Guatemala like me. May God bless you!

With all my love,

Erick Santiago Mendoza Vasquez

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