The Children
Maria Cristina, 18, was born January 1, 1994. Her student number is 5 and she will be in 7th grade in 2012.
Their Family
Cristina’s mother was the second (and much younger) wife of Eulalio, but when Cristina was 7 her mother became very sick and died. Since then Cristina has been responsible for the home, preparing meals and also for caring for her elderly, and at time ailing, father. Cristina has five half-siblings but they are all married now and do not help Cristina or her father with any of their needs. The relatives from Eulalio’s first wife does not accept Cristina as a part of the family.
Cristina’s father is 82 years old and works on a farm although he can’t work every day because he isn’t strong enough anymore. He has rheumatism that was diagnosed by the doctor, but he hasn’t been back for any follow up care and he can’t afford the medication prescribed to him. His legs are often in pain. He has a bed but no mattress.
Cristina just graduated from elementary school and is planning to continue her education to middle school. She is very shy and quiet, looking down at the ground for most of the interview. She started the interview in Spanish but prefers to talk in Kakchiquel, her native Mayan dialect so another translator was fetched.
Their House
Cristina and Eulalio live in a dilapidated house on the side of a steep mountain in San Jorge. Their house is made of lamina, both the roof and the walls. When it starts to rain she goes to her brother’s house and stays there until the rain stops and she is sure her house is safe again. They don’t have electricity or running water. She walks down to the public washing area in the center of town when she needs to wash clothes. She has a water filter but no pila (a large cement sink). The kitchen is apart from the rest of the house and she cooks over an open fire. She was given a bed and mattress by her school sponsor and blankets by another donor.Their Needs
$100/mo Food donation
Build a retaining wall to protect house from mudslides
Rebuild the house with cement block
$44 Mattress for father (need to confirm size)
Connect electricity
Connect water
$118 Pila
$170 Onil stove
How to Donate
- To use PayPal, click the button below to go to Mayan Families' donation page. Enter the donation amount in the Family Aid field. Enter Cristina #5 for the Family Name. Specify the purpose of the donation in the Extra Notes box.
- To pay by check, include a note specifying Cristina #5 as the recipient and the purpose of the donation. Mail to:
Mayan Families
PO Box 52
Claremont, NC 28610
PO Box 52
Claremont, NC 28610