Isabel Guarchaj Carrillo

Read about Isabel's leadership in Hurricane Stan relief efforts here.

Chirijox, December 30, 2004

To: The director of the Victoria Association

In first place I thank God for the opportunity He has given me to direct myself to you, and I hope that you are enjoying good times along with your loved ones and throughout your daily work. After this short greeting, I will continue on to the importance of this letter.

I am Isabel Guarchaj Carrillo, 30 years old, from the region of Nahualá, Sololá, and my identity document is number G-7 30039. Now I will tell you about my past history, my present, and the future I hope for.

Sixteen years ago, my two siblings and I were orphaned. I was studying in quarto when my father died and in quinto when my mother died. At that time I wanted to keep studying, but it wasn’t possible because my grandmother sent us to work at a young age. My sister and I had to earn money to support our 4-year-old brother, who got sick often. We worked to buy medicine, corn, sugar, soap, and clothes for my brother and for us. My grandmother was getting old, and after a time I left home to live in Totonicapán and work for a very kind family. The told me that I could study while I was working for them, and so I made the decision to study until graduating from primaria school. Once I got my diploma, I looked for help so that I would be able to study to be a nurse, but the nursing schools wouldn’t accept my diploma. Then I found a school in Sololá that did accept my diploma and I was glad to work toward my goal. I wasn’t able to study in 2004 for lack of money, but I want to study in 2005, even if only on the weekends, because I want to graduate and continue with a career. I’m currently working Monday through Friday to pay off a Q3,000 ($387) debt I incurred in order to complete my internship at the hospital of Quetzaltenango. During the time when I was interning, my grandmother died and so now I am alone. It has only been a year since she died, but I have made the decision that I want to continue studying.

That is why I am applying for your support, because in truth I need that support, no matter the quantity, whatever quantity you may be able to provide if my application is accepted. I thank you in advance with all my heart for your attention to this letter. May God bless all of you who are working on this project. Thanks especially to Roland because thanks to him this letter will reach its destination. I don’t have anything more to say, I just want to apologize for the grammatical errors in this letter. May 2005 be a very peaceful year for you with much success. These are my sincere wishes, and thank you again for your attention.

Sincerely,

Isabel Guarchaj Carrillo

To contribute to Isabel's scholarship, please visit the Support us page.

Go back to the Students page to read more biographies.

 Tax-deductible contributions to Project Victoria may be made to:

Project Victoria Fund
Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation
200 1st St. SW
Cedar Rapids IA 52404
319-366-2862