My Story

Tunajá is a very primitive area of the state of Quiché, Guatemala.  The inhabitants are Quiché Indians who trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization.  The prevalent language is the Indian dialect - Quiché.  The people are either farmers or shepherds and live off the fruits of their laborers. Very little money ever changes hands as they use a barter system.  Public education is available - however, most families cannot afford it.  Electricity and running water are not available in most of the area.  Life in Tunajá is extremely difficult.

It is my pleasure to greet you for the first time. My name is Arely Luarca Loarca. I am 5 years old. I was born on February10, 2020. I am a healthy girl. I am not at school due to my young age. For that reason, I stay at home and spend my time playing on my skateboard. I love eating Pepian which is a typical dish here. I like purple, and my favorite pet is chicken. I have only one sister. We attend the feeding program together. We take a bus to get there. About my family, well my father´s name is Juan Luarca Mejia and my mother´s is Hilda Loarca Gonzales. We live together and enjoy good health currently. My dad works as a farmer and day laborer. My mom also contributes to the economy by raising chickens to sell. Besides that, she does the housework. Unfortunately, we do not attend any church at the moment.

We live in a humble house made of adobe, tin sheet roof and cemented floor. It belongs to my father. There are three rooms and a separate kitchen. We have an artisanal well to get our water. There is an electricity service that my father pays monthly. Our greatest necessity is food. Well, this is a little about me. I hope you find this interesting. Thank you for taking the time to read it. May God bless you richly!

Lots of love,

Arely Luarca Loarca

Translated by: Mireya de Sandoval, AAC Secretary / Antigua