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 Abelardo Danilo Benito Garcia, and this is my personal information; my mother helped me with it. I am 8 years old, and I was born on March 31, 2017. I am in good health, and I am in 2^nd grade this year. I enjoy playing soccer in my free time. My favorite color is red, and I like doves. I enjoy eating chicken broth. I only have one sister. I usually walk for 15 minutes to arrive at the feeding program. We are a humble family, and our frequent needs are groceries, clothes and school supplies.

My father’s name is Ramiro Benito Calachij, and he works as a farmer in our village; he also goes to cut sugar cane at the coast from November to May. My mother’s name is Juana Garcia Ruiz, and she is a housewife; she raises some hens for selling when we are in need of money. My family is in good health, and we are attending the Catholic Church. We live with my paternal grandparents, and we share the house with other relatives. It has three rooms and a kitchen, and it is made of adobe with a tin sheet roof and dirt floor. We have electricity and running water, and we all contribute to pay these bills. We have some pigs and hens at home. I say goodbye to you for now.

With much love

Abelardo Danilo Benito Garcia

Translated by: Loyda de Osorio, AAC Secretary-Antigua