My Story

Tunaja is a small area of the state of Quiché, Guatemala. The inhabitants are Quiché Mayans who trace their ancestral roots to the ancient Mayan civilization. The prevalent language is the Mayani dialect - Quiché. The people are either farmers or shepherds and live off the fruits of their labors. 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 Tunaja is difficult.

Hello. My name is Juan Luis Felipe. I was born in Joyabaj, Quiche on August 19, 2014. I am 9 years old and my health is good. I am a second grader at school. My favorite dish is fried chicken. In my free time, I enjoy playing football. I like the color red and pigeons. I have a big family, my parents, eight brothers and three sisters. Two of my sisters are registered in the feeding program also now.

My father´s name is Carlos Chingo Cux, and he works as a farmer or day laborer. My mother´s name is Micaela Benito Gutierrez de Chingo and she is a housemaker. As a family, we do not attend any church yet. Our greatest necessities are clothes, shoes and food. I like attending the feeding program. Nevertheless, I have to walk for 15 minutes to the road and then take a bus to the program for five more minutes.

My maternal grandmother shares her house with us because my parents do not have one. She does not ask my parents for rent. The house has one room made of tin sheet roof, dirt floor and adobe walls. Our kitchen is a provisional construction that my father did with only a tin sheet roof. That is why my mother has to cook in the floor. We do not pay for water service because there is a well at home where we get the water with plastic buckets. My uncle gives us electricity and my father shares the payment with him. We have domestic animals at home such as cows and chickens. Well, thank you so much for reading my short story. My sister Maria Elizabeth was in charge of givingthis information to the LW teacher. I thank you for your interest to know about me. May God bless and protect you wherever you are!

Best regards from now on,

Juan Luis Felipe Chingo Benito

Translated by: Mireya de Sadoval, AAC Secretary / Antigua