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. Life in Zone 5 is very difficult.

Hello! It is a pleasure to send you many greetings and hugs with much love hoping you are doing well and are receiving the Lord´s blessings. This is Kate Kasserine Carmin Rivera Batres, I was born on April 20, 2016. I am now 9 years old. I attend school in the 3rd grade. In my free time, I enjoy jumping rope. I like the color white and my favorite animal is the leopard. A delicious dish for me is fried chicken and potatoes. I am a healthy child and so is my family. My father, Elder Jose Rivera Recinos, struggles to support our family by working as a blacksmith. My mother, Astrid Lorena Batres Aquino is a housemaid and spends time taking care of my brother and me. We attend a Christian church called “Ebenezer”.

We live in a rented house. We use one room made of tin sheet walls and roof and a concrete floor with running water and electricity. We do not have a separate kitchen, so we cook in the same room. My father pays for rent Q. 500.00 quetzals ($66.00) monthly, and in addition, he pays other home services. We have two dogs as pets. Our main need is a bunk bed. I walk about 30 minutes from home to the feeding program. I say goodbye for now and I hope to hear from you soon.

Yours very truly, 

Kate Kasserine Carmin Rivera Batres

Translated by: Lucia Gravez/AAC Secretary