My Story

Dueñas, where your child lives, is a small farming village located at the foot of one of Guatemala's active volcanoes, Fuego (Fire). The fertile ground around the village allows for the cultivation of roses and coffee, two of Guatemala's largest exports. Most of the families in this area live in one or two room wooden or adobe houses with tin roofs. Electricity is available to those who can afford it. Running water is available - however, most homes do not have indoor plumbing. Public education is available for those who can afford it and consider education of value. Life in Dueñas is quiet and sometimes difficult.

Hello! I am Karen Arely Ordonez Zuniga. I was born on September 25, 2019, and I am 4 years old. I attend pre-kindergarten this year. I enjoy playing with my dolls and pretending to cook with my toy dishes. My favorite color is purple, and the animal I love is the giraffe. The meals I like to eat are hotdogs and stew. I live only with my mother, grandmother and one brother. My mother´s name is Monica Elizabeth Zuniga Santos. She is struggling to supply our family´s needs. She works in a plant nursery, and she is in charge of poinsettias; her job is just for certain seasons. However, she looks for another job to supply what we need. My grandmother´s name is Oralia Santos; she goes to wash and iron clothes for other people and collects firewood to sell for income. While my mother and grandma are working, my aunt Yubitza Zuniga takes care of my sister and me.

My father´s name is Jose Eliceo Ordonez Ojot, but sadly, he abandoned us when I was only 3 months old. He established another family, and he does not support or communicate with me in any way. My paternal grandmother calls us occasionally to find out about us and sends us Q100.00 = $14 once in a long time. For now, we do not attend church because of my mother’s lack of time. We live in a rented house, and the monthly payment is Q600.00 = $80.00. There is electricity and running water and my mother and grandma pay for them. There are two rooms made of tin sheets, both walls and roof and a cement floor. The kitchen is separated. My brother and I walk about 15 minutes to get to the feeding program. My mother has a foot spur, and she is receiving medical care at the local health center. Besides that, we are quite well. As a family, our most basic needs are food, clothing, and footwear. This time the Living Water staff collected this information personally for the record, and my mother Monica Zuniga provided it. Take care. May God bless you greatly!

Best wishes,

Karen Arely Ordonez Zuniga

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