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 a wonderful day to say hello to you and I trust in God that you are doing well! This is Lena Victoria Suhani Colay, and I am now 5 years old. My birthdate is December 14, 2020. Unfortunately, my biological father did not want to legally recognize me. My mother is Carmen Elena Colay. She works in a warehouse of hygiene products. My great-grandmother, Paula Barillas watches over me while my mom goes to work. My mom recently accepted another man in her life and he came to live with us five months ago. He is Mr. Vidal Reyes. He makes a living as a bricklayer. I am in good health. However, I want you to pray for my mother and stepfather. My mother suffers from her thyroid and my stepfather from asthma. Fortunately, they are both receiving medical care at IGSS (Guatemalan Social Security Institute).

I will share a few things about myself. I am in Pre-kindergarten this year. I like to play with my dolls and toy dishes and coloring in my free time. The meals I like the most are noodles and meat. The animal I like the most is the hamster, and in fact, I have three of them as pets. I love the color pink. My family and I are attending a Christian Church. We do not have our own house, but thanks to God, my grandfather has allowed us to live with him. There are two rooms and a kitchen. It is a block house with a tin sheet roof and a cement floor. There are running water and electricity services. Now, my mom and stepfather are paying for those services. I am so blessed to be enrolled in the feeding program and I get there by walking in 20 minutes. My great-grandmother accompanies me. I want to thank you so much for reading about me today. Every kind of blessing over you!

Warm hugs,

Lena Victoria Suhani Colay

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