We helped Ana making boxes in this gratitude workshop with the girls
On Monday we visited the orphanage Peruvian Hearts wishes to make a model for others in Peru – el Hogar. Ana, her mom Judi, and brother/organization director Danny arrived with an activity for the girls – making “compliment boxes.” This was Ana’s idea to teach the girls the importance of gratitude and random acts of kindness for others. The girls decorated the boxes with their names and cut-outs of hearts, flowers, and stars, and the nuns who watch over them will make sure they make a weekly habit of writing kind words to each other.
Group shot with the girls of el Hogar, an orphange Peruvian Hearts completely transformed, enabling these girls to dream big
We delivered the donated vitamins from our NYC Tweetup and the Spanish children’s books donated by Kim Greene, who works at Scholastic in NYC. They were received with deep gratitude appreciation! After we took a group jumping picture (which we’ll print and send them to hang on their bulletin board), the girls sang us a song to express their national pride, thanks, and desire that we do not forget them. Many asked for our email addresses—they have a computer lab!—so we hope to stay in touch and send them photos and notes of encouragement.
I interviewed one little girl who told me her dream was to be a policewoman! An unexpected career choice, but she wants to protect her community, and even if she changes her mind, she understands one thing: education is the key to realizing any career dream.
We continued our expedition to a town called Urubamba, where we’re staying at the Eco Hotel owned by another longtime Peruvan Hearts supporter, Edwin. We met Ana, Danny & Co. for dinner again to ask them more questions about their programs for girls, now that we’ve seen the girls’ bright smiles, eager minds, and clean quarters for ourselves. Captured great video interviews that will show you the rewards and challenges of running non-profits abroad.
