My Story

Chuchuca, where your child lives, 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.  Chuchuca is a farming area where corn and black beans, the staple elements in their diet, are the major corps. 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.

It is a pleasure for me to introduce myself through this! My name is Wendy Griselda Carelin Barrera Simaj. I was born on April 15^th of 2017, in Zacualpa, Quiche, Guatemala. I have only my mother´s last name because she was pregnant with me when my biological father left to go to the United States. Unfortunately, he abandoned my mother about six years ago and we know nothing about him. My mother´s name is Margarita Barrera Simaj. She struggles to supply our home expenses; she weaves typical items to sell and raises hens and sheep to sell too. I have three sisters, and no brothers. One aunt is living with us. Our pets are a dog and a cat.

I am an 8-year-old girl and I am in good health. I am repeating first grade this year. I like to play with my dolls, color drawings and do my homework. I love the color purple. My favorite animal is the rabbit. I love eating beans with eggs. We attend the Church of Christ. Fortunately, my mother owns the house in which we live in; there is only one room made of adobe, with tin sheet roof and a dirt floor. We have no kitchen, but my mom has improvised a place to cook. We do not have running water or electricity services. Fortunately, my maternal grandpa allows us to get water from the natural spring that he has in his house. We bring it home with the help of plastic containers. We use candles to get light at night. Our greatest needs are clothes and groceries. It is a great blessing for me to be registered at the feeding program and receive support; I walk one and a half hour to get there. Well, this is all for now and I hope to hear from you soon. May God bless you wherever you are!

Huge hugs,

Wendy Griselda Carelin Barrera Simaj

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