A Month of Thanks – Day 11: Lifetime of Serving

There is a big difference between serving and providing services. Serving is about people connecting with people. Serving requires a commitment of the heart.

We are so thankful to have a true servant leader at HBI, Dr. Roberto Tarazona Ponte. Roberto, or Tito as he is affectionately known by the team, is a rare mix of incredible intellect and boundless compassion.

As the Director of Comunidad Girasoles, Tito is responsible for assuring the highest continuity and best practices for all HBI’s work in child-welfare and youth empowerment. This includes the Casa Girasoles homes for formerly abandonded children, the Adolescent Mentorship program for young adults formerly from residential care, and the Center of Excellence project – our evidence-backed model for empowering change in child-protective services in Perú.

Roberto is an avid reader who posses an encyclopedic memory.  He is found of quoting the great philosophers, and ancient prophets. He is, however, most of all an amazing person. If you’ve ever joined HBI in Perú, you have undoubtedly experienced first-hand the servant heart of Tito. He is the first person to get up at all hours of the night to answer a call from the Casa Girasoles directors about a sick boy, and the person who helps to clear dishes from the table and then washes plates in the sink. Perhaps the coolest thing about Tito – he is on a first name basis with The Holy See (Pope Francis)! But he’d never tell you that because he is just so dang humble.

We are incredibly thankful to have Dr. Tito on the HBI team!