My Story

Chixocol, where your child lives, is a very small village nestled in a mountain valley in the state of Quiché, Guatemala. Life in this state is very difficult and somewhat isolated from the outside world. Most families live in one-room adobe houses with dirt floors and a small attached kitchen. The extremely poor live in houses made of corn stalks. In the past few years, electricity and water have become available to most people in the area - however, indoor plumbing is very rare. Most of the families are farmers or shepherds and live off the fruits of their labors. Public education is available for those who can afford it and consider it of value. Life in Quiché is always a challenge.

It is my pleasure to introduce myself in this opportunity! My full name is Manuel Enrique Tebalan Jimon. I was born on August 4^th of 2021, in Zacualpa, Quiche, Guatemala. I am a 4-year-old boy. My mother´s name is Ana Jimon Castro. She is a single parent and struggles to provide for our needs. She weaves typical items and raises hens. Moreover, she goes to wash clothes when someone calls her. My father´s name is Juan Tebalan Suar. Unfortunately, he took the decision to abandon us a couple years ago, and now, he has another partner. I have three sisters and no brothers. By the grace of God, we are in good health.

I am in nursery school this year and I like to attend. My hobby is to play with my toy cars. I love the color yellow and I like cats. The meal I love the most is sausage. My family and I attend Catholic Church. We are living in my grandmother´s house; she lives there with us. There are four rooms; three are bedrooms and one is used as a kitchen. It is an adobe house with a tin sheet roof and a dirt floor. There is running water and electricity; my grandma pays for those services. Our greatest needs are groceries, corn and clothes. It is a great blessing for me to be registered in the feeding program; my mother accompanies my sisters and me. We walk for one hour to arrive. I say goodbye to you for now and I would like to hear from you soon. May God bless you!

Kisses and hugs,

Manuel Enrique Tebalan Jimon

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