My Story

Nueva Esperanza, which means New Hope, is located in a slum area of Guatemala City, Guatemala. An extremely poor area, our program is squeezed in among the shanty dwellings built over an old city dump. Many houses in this area are without toilets or running water and are assembled with scrap wood, sheet metal, and cardboard. Zone 5, where Nueva Esperanza is located, is considered one of the most dangerous areas of Guatemala City. It is controlled by gangs and drug pushers. Robberies and murders are common in this area. Public education is available - however, many cannot afford it. Life in Zone 5 is very difficult. It is an extremely dangerous area where criminals, prostitutes and drug addicts live.  

It is a pleasure to tell you a little about my life. My name is Keren Camila Isabella Camey Brizuela, and I was born on July 1, 2016. I am now 9 years old. I am a third-grade student. I enjoy playing dolls, reading, singing and painting in my free time. My favorite color is pink and I love dogs have one at home. The food that I like to eat the most is chicken with rice. Thanks to God, we are healthy. About my family, my father is Daniel Ebenezer Camey Parada, and he earns a living working as an accountant. My mother is Jennifer Yohan Brizuela Vargas, and she stays at home taking care of us but she also sells products by catalog in order to help my father with our expenses. I have one brother and his name is Daniel. My family attends a Cristian church called “Unsión's House“.

We live in our own house made of block and wood, tin sheet roof, concrete floor, and we have running water and electricity. There are two rooms with a separate kitchen. My father pays our services. Our greatest need is school uniforms. I walk about 10 minutes from my house to the feeding program. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my letter.

God bless you!

Keren Camila Isabella Camey Brizuela

Translated by: Lucia Gravez