My Story

Chixocol, where your child lives, is a very small village nestled in a mountain valley in the state of Quiche, 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 Quiche is always a challenge.

My name is Roberto Tino Uz and I want to share my information with you. I was born on October 17, 2021. I am 3 years old and because of my age, I still do not attend school. I like playing ball and toy cars in my free time. My favorite color is red and I like sheep very much. I love having fried chicken and black beans for my meals. Now, let me tell you about my family. Fortunately, everybody is doing well. We attend a Christian Church called Prince of Peace. My father is Nazario Tino Gutierrez. He works as a farmer and day laborer to support our family. Our priorities are clothes and food. My mother is Maria Uz Mendez. She keeps busy doing the chores and taking care of my siblings and me. I have four brothers and three sisters.

Fortunately, we live in our own house. It is made of adobe with a tile roof and a dirt floor. It has two rooms, a separate kitchen, and running water. We also have electricity at home, thanks to my uncle who shares the service with us. My parents pay half of the bill. We have some chickens and turkeys at home for our consumption. The feeding program is about 10 minutes from where I live. My siblings and I get there on foot. We like having delicious meals there. It is time to say goodbye to you now, but I thank you very much for reading my letter.

Special regards,

Roberto Tino Uz

Translated by: Hillary Popol, AAC Secretary/Antigua Guatemala