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! I am Katherine Mileidy Chingo Chingo and I am greeting you cordially. I want to tell you my little story and I hope you like to read it. I was born in Joyabaj, Quiche on September 2, 2017. I am a healthy girl and I am 8 years old. I am studying the 1st grade at school and I like to play with dolls. I love the color purple and dogs. My favorite meal is chicken meat. My mother accompanies me to the Feeding Center and we walk a half hour to arrive there. Her name is Sandra Chingo Chingo. She works hard to sustain me because my father Carlos Manuel Chingo Benito abandoned us two years ago. He has another family. He is not supporting me financially and we do not have communication with him. My mother earns a living as a maid and my grandmother takes care of me while she is working. She tries to cover our family needs, but sometimes, it is difficult for her and we are in need of groceries and clothing. We believe in God and we attend the Catholic Church. 

We live in a rented house, so my grandmother Juana Chingo and my mother pay Q 500.00 (US$66) monthly. Thankfully, they divide the payment. We have one room and we also cook there in a small space. The room is made of adobe walls, tin sheet roof and dirt floors. We have electricity and my mother pays for the service. By the grace of God, my great-grandmother gives us water. We do not have domestic animals at home, but we would like to have some chicks. I send you every kind of blessing!

Huge hugs,

Katherine Mileidy Chingo Chingo

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