Meet Maria Leticia Jiménez Hernandez!

Maria lives under very difficult circumstances. Her family has no electricity or running water, and her parents survive by collecting and recycling aluminum cans. Maria’s father has a condition that limits the work he can do. Maria does nearly all the household chores herself: collecting water from the river, cooking, laundry, cleaning, and caring for her siblings. In 2022, she saved her two younger sisters from a house fire, sustaining serious burns herself while ensuring they survived. Her favorites include pepian, the color yellow, spending time with her pets, and doing art. She dreams of becoming a teacher.