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.

It is a pleasure to greet you through this letter telling to you about my life. This is Gustavo Alfonso Rafael Cua Guzman, and I was born on October 19, 2018. I am 6 years old now. I was enrolled in school this year and I am in Kindergarten. I suffer from alopecia which is a state of losing excessive hair. I am under medical control in a Public Hospital and I also receive laser treatment on my head twice a week. In spite of my health condition, I enjoy playing toy cars, soccer and painting. I love the color red and I like dogs. My favorite food is pizza and eggs. About my family: I live with my mother Yenifer Yojana Guzman Lopez and my sister Dulce. My father is Raymundo Alfonso Cua Siquic but he does not live with us. He keeps in touch with us and sends us monthly support. He works in a place where they work on cars. My mother makes an effort to improve our needs selling second hand clothes. Thanks to God, my family is well. We are part of a Christian church called “Esmirna”. 

We live in a rented house made of block, tin sheet roof and concrete floor. There are two rooms without a separate kitchen. We have running water and electricity. My mother pays for rent Q. 550.00 quetzals ($75.00) monthly. Our main needs at the moment are medicine and groceries. I walk about 30 minutes to get to the feeding program. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my letter.

Warm regards,

Gustavo Alfonso Rafael Cua Guzman

Translated by: Lucia Gravez/AAC Secretary