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 corps. 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! I am very happy to share my information through this. My full name is Junior Joel Gomez Gomez. I was born on November 14, 2020, in Zacualpa, Quiche, Guatemala. I turn 5 years old this year, and thanks to God, I am still not attending school this year because of my young age. For now, I enjoy playing with my toy cars at home. My favorite color is red, and the animal I like the most is the wolf. I love eating rice and beans. I live with my parents and one brother. Thankfully, my whole family is doing well. My father works both as a farmer and day laborer. Moreover, he goes to cut sugar cane on the coast for six months. His name is Joel Israel Gomez Morente. My mother weaves typical belts, and she raises hens and pigs to sell to get an income. The hens are also for our livelihood. My mom´s name is Angelica Gomez de la Cruz.

We are members of the Church of Christ. The house in which we live belongs to my maternal grandmother; grandparents and uncles live there too. There are 4 adobe rooms with a tile roof and a granite floor. The kitchen is separate. We have running water and electricity services; my parents and other relatives contribute to pay the bills. The water is a yearly payment, and the electricity is a monthly payment. As a family, our greatest needs are groceries and clothes. I am very happy to be part of the feeding program and I walk one hour to get there. My mom accompanies me or one of my cousins, who is registered too. Thank you for stopping and taking the time to read about me. May our Lord continue blessing you!

A bunch of hugs,

Junior Joel Gomez Gomez

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