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.  

Hello! It is a pleasure to send you many greetings and hugs with much love hoping you are doing well and receiving the Lord´s blessings. This is Mia Valentina Aguilar Salazar, and I was born on March 15, 2016. I am now 9 years old. I am a third-grade student. I enjoy playing soccer, jumping rope, drawing, painting and playing kitchen. I love red, and my favorite animal is the cat. A delicious dish for me is spaghetti with tomato sauce. I do not know anything about my father because he abandoned me when I was born. Currently, my mother remarried another man named Maycon Anibal Navas Flores. He is my stepfather but he only supports my little sister’s expenses. He works as a security policeman. My mother struggles to support me and my brother by working as a waitress. She is Katerin Magali Aguilar Salazar. My family does not attend any church. Thanks to God, we are fine.

 We live in a rented house made of block, concrete roof and floor. There are three rooms but we use one of them as a kitchen, and it has running water and electricity. My mother and stepfather pay Q. 1700.00 quetzals ($ 227.00) monthly for rent and services. Our greatest needs are school supplies and groceries. It takes me about 20 minutes walking to get to the feeding program. I say goodbye for now and I hope to hear from you soon.

With much love,

Mia Valentina Aguilar Salazar

Translated by: Lucia Gravez