My Story

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

Good morning! I am so excited for the opportunity to share my information this time. My name is Manuel Jefferson Tum Calachij. I was born on January 3^rd of 2022, in Zacualpa, Quiche, Guatemala. I am 3 years old. My father is Pedro Tum Tojin. He is living and working in the United States in a chicken farm. He faithfully sends us financial support every month. My mother is Carmelina Calachij Alvarado. She usually does the housework and raises hens and pigs to sell; she sells them only if necessary.

I am very young and I am not attending school yet. For now, I enjoy playing football at home. I love the color blue and the animal I like the most is the giraffe. I love eating fried chicken. We attend the Catholic Church. We are living in my maternal grandmother´s house alongside two aunts. My grandma is living and working in the USA; she works as a nanny. There are three rooms; we use two of them, and the kitchen is a shack. It is a concrete block house with cement roof and a ceramic floor. We have running water and electricity; my grandma sends money to pay for those services. For now, our greatest needs are groceries. I am so happy to be part of the feeding program. I attend alongside my aunt who is registered in the program too; we walk five minutes to arrive. Well, this is all for now, but I hope to hear from you soon. Every kind of blessing over you!

Kisses and hugs,

Manuel Jefferson Tum Calachij

Translated by: Violeta Hernandez / A-A-C Secretary-Antigua Guatemala