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! I am very happy to share my information through this. My full name is Angela Ximena Caal Xi. I was born on June 26^th, 2018, in Panzos/Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. I am now 8 years old, and thanks to God, I am healthy. I am attending first grade this year. I like to play with my dolls and color in my spare time. My favorite color is purple. The animal I like the most is the cat. I love eating chicken and fries. I live with my mother and two sisters. Thankfully, my whole family is doing well. I am very happy to be part of the feeding program, and I walk 10 minutes to get there.

My mother´s name is Elsa Yolanda Caal Xi. She works as a security guard for 10 hours daily. She is our only provider and struggles to give us the best. Thankfully, my grandma takes care of my sisters and me while my mom goes to work. I did not meet my father because he abandoned my mother when he found out about the pregnancy. We are members of the Rock of Salvation Church. We live in a rented room, and the monthly payment is Q800.00, $107. We have running water and electricity services; my mother pays for them. The room is made of concrete blocks with a tin sheet roof and a cement floor. My mother cooks inside the room because there is no kitchen. As a family, our greatest needs are groceries, a stove and school support. This is all for now and I would like to hear from you soon. Many rich blessings over you!

Warm hugs,

Angela Ximena Caal Xi

Translated by: Violeta Hernandez, A-A-C Secretary-Antigua