My Story

Cuatro Caminos "four roads", where your child lives, is an area located high on the side of a mountain in the state of Quiche, Guatemala. Life in this area is very difficult and very isolated from the outside world. It is a two hour walk to the nearest market town of Zacualpa. Cuatro Caminos is a farming area where corn and black beans, the staple elements in their diet, are the major crops. The Quiche Mayans who inhabit this area trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization. They normally speak a Mayan dialect called Quiche - however, Spanish is becoming more common. Very little money ever changes hands in this area as they live on a barter system. 

Hello! My name is Catarina Magdalena Calachij Morente, and I want to share with you a little about my life. I am in good health, and I am 5 years old; I was born on February 15, 2020. Camilo Calachij Barrera is my father’s name, and he works as a day laborer. He also goes to pick coffee beans at the coast from November to February. Maria Morente Morente is my mother’s name, and she is a housewife. She also raises hens, sheep and pigs for selling. Thank God, my parents are both in good health. I have 5 brothers and 3 sisters, and three of them are registered at the feeding program too; they accompany me to the program. 

I am not attending school yet due to my age. I enjoy playing dolls and toy dishes at home. My favorite color is green, and I like hens. I really enjoy eating fried chicken. As a family, we attend the Catholic Church. We live in our own house, and it has one room and a kitchen. It is made of adobe with a tin sheet roof and dirt floor. We use a solar panel to get electricity at home, and we use a hose to bring water from a stream to our house. We have hens, pigs, sheep and dogs at home. We are a humble family, and our frequent needs are groceries and clothes. I am happy to be part of the feeding program, and I walk for 20 minutes to arrive there. I say goodbye to you for now hoping to hear from you soon.

Yours truly

Catarina Magdalena Calachij Morente

Translated by: Loyda de Osorio, AAC Secretary-Antigua