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! This is Tania Alessandra Herrera Garcia, and I feel so happy to greet you in this opportunity. I was born on June 25, 2018. I am 7 years old now. I am in first grade at school. I enjoy playing dolls, Jax and painting. I like the color purple and I love unicorns. My favorite food is eggs with strained beans. I live only with my mother Monica Magali Garcia Marroquin and siblings. She struggles to support our family working as a sales promoter, but she only works on weekends. My father is Julio Ernesto Herrera Marroquin, and he works as a car parts salesman, He supports our family even though he does not live with us. Thanks to God, we are healthy. My family attends a Christian Church called “Obreros de la Mies”.

We live in our own house made of adobe, tin sheet roof and concrete floor. There are seven rooms but we only use three of them and a separate kitchen.  We share it and the expenses with my grandmother and aunts. It has running water and electricity. We have a dog and cat at home. Our greatest needs are groceries, shoes and clothes. It takes me about 20 minutes from my house to the feeding program. I say goodbye for now hoping to hear from you soon. 

God bless you!

Tania Alessandra Herrera Garcia

Translated by: Lucia Gravez/AAC Secretary