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 crops. 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.

Hello! My name is Sandra Paulina Coj Ruiz. My birthdate is Dec 31, 2017, and this December I will turn 7 years old. This year I attend kindergarten at school. I like to play with my toy dishes. I love cats and my favorite color is pink. I love all food and I have no favorite one. I live happily with my mother and one brother. Thankfully, my family and I are in good health. My father´s name is Manuel Coj Morente; however, he abandoned us a few months after I was born. My mother´s name is Santos Ruiz Gutierrez. She is a single parent and works hard to supply our needs. She goes to work in Guatemala City; she sends money to supply for my needs. Meanwhile, I stay under my grandparent´s care. My grandparents raise hens, sheep and pigs.

My family and I attend Catholic Church. We live in my grandparents’ house, there are three rooms. We use two as a room and one as a kitchen. The house is made of adobe with tile roof and a dirt floor. There is running water and electricity; the electricity belongs to my mother´s brother but my family pays for that service since we use it. We are a humble family and what we need the most is groceries. I am very happy to be register in the feeding program; I walk 20 minutes to arrive there. Well, for the time being, that is all. Many and abundant blessings!

Lots of love,

Sandra Paulina Coj Ruiz

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