My Story

Zacualpa is a small but busy village in a mountain valley.  The village is inhabited by both Quiché Indians and Ladinos (those with mixed European ancestry). The prevalent language is Spanish.  Families in this village live in one or two room homes generally constructed of either wood or adobe.  Although many of the people are farmers, the village contains several small specialized stores, a body repair shop for buses, mechanics, plumbers and many other small-town tradesmen.   It also has a large open-air market which serves much of the area.  Even with all of this, the poverty level is very high and the children are very needy.

Hello, this is Cristal Isabella Hernandez Villagran and I was born in Antigua Guatemala on October 31, 2017. I am 7 years old and I am in good health. I like to play with dolls. I like the color pink. I love cats and my favorite meal is spaghetti with meat. I have only one brother and he is part of this project. My brother, cousins and I walk to the Feeding Center in ten minutes. Sometimes my mother accompanies us to the Program.

I live under my mother and stepfather`s care. I do not know anything about my biological father because he abandoned me when I was two months old. My stepfather has lived with us for five years, and his name is Erwin Estuardo Chunchun De La Cruz.  Fortunately, he earns a living by delivering bottled water, and he sustains the family financially while my mother is working as a street vendor and sells homemade snacks. Her name is Jennifer Elizabeth Villagran Sapon. I am thankful because both of them are in good health. We live in my aunt`s house. Her name is Rosa. We share the house with my grandmother and other aunts. We have eight rooms and a separated kitchen. The rooms are made of block walls, tin sheet roof and cemented floors. We have running water and electricity. Every member of my family shares the payments for those services. We are a needy family and our current needs are groceries. As a family, we attend the Catholic Church. I say goodbye to you for now and I hope you enjoy reading my personal information. May God bless you!

Kisses and hugs,

Cristal Isabella Hernandez Villagran

Translated by:  Gladys Chavez / A-A-C Secretary-Antigua