My Story

Chixocol, where your child lives, is a very small village nestled in a mountain valley in the state of Quiché, Guatemala. Life in this state is very difficult and somewhat isolated from the outside world. Most families live in one-room adobe houses with dirt floors and a small, attached kitchen. The extremely poor live in houses made of corn stalks. In the past few years electricity and water have become available to most people in the area - however, indoor plumbing is very rare. Most of the families are farmers or shepherds and live off the fruits of their labors. Public education is available for those who can afford it and consider it of value. Life in Quiché is always a challenge.

Hello, I hope you are well! I send you many blessings in the name of Jesus. My name is Karely Yaneisy Tol Riz. I was born on March 6, 2022. I am now 4 years old. Because of my young age, I am not attending school yet. So, I enjoy playing football at home. I love cats, and my favorite color is pink. I like eating eggs. By the grace of God, my family and I are in good health. Adelaida Riz de la Cruz is my mother, and she is a merchant and has a small business. She contributes to the income. She also raises hens. Ervin Alexander Tol Grave is my father, and he makes a living by driving a chicken bus. He provides for our needs. I have no siblings yet.

We are members of a Christian Church. Thanks to God, we live in our own house; there are two rooms and a kitchen. The house is made of concrete blocks with a tin sheet roof and a cement floor. We have running water and electricity services. The water is a yearly payment, and the electricity is a monthly payment. I am so excited and blessed to be enrolled in the feeding program; I attend alongside my maternal aunt, and we walk 20 minutes to arrive. Thank you so much for taking the time to learn about me! I pray that God will bless you wherever you are and in whatever you are doing!

With all my love,

Karely Yaneisy Tol Riz

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