I was excited to receive the Gravel Adventure Bike Camp invite from my close childhood friend, Dr. Wayne Centrone. I had last seen him nearly 30 years ago when I assisted with his move from Tallahassee to Panama City, Florida. Wayne and I had virtually linked up a few years ago through our mutual friend, Brian. The Camp provided an opportunity for the three of us to reconnect, while also supporting HBI’s Casa Girasoles Sanos group homes. These are residences where a Peruvian team of professionals provide formerly abandoned boys a stable home environment.
I shared the news of the Camp with my family, and was pleasantly surprised when my college student son, Nate, expressed interest in joining the adventure. Nate and I have a pretty good relationship, but past military requirements have caused me to miss some of his special childhood to early adulthood moments. We bond through our mutual love of soccer, and we planned on sharing our love of the sport with the Casa Girasoles boys. I was hoping (and perhaps he, too) that this adventure would be a nice bonding experience for both of us.
Karen greeted us at the Lima airport early morning of November 2 and took us to the HBI headquarters to decompress and meet Wayne. Memories flooded my thoughts as I heard his voice and laughter. He’s still my only friend who calls me by my full name! We shared memories and inside jokes over the course of the Camp, and we agreed to visit Brian in New Orleans (alas, a bad back kept him from this adventure).

The Camp was a great way to bond with my son Nate, and my childhood friend, Wayne.
Nate and I are not avid cyclists – certainly not in the same realm as our other camp adventurers. My wife and I bike once or twice a week, with the primary goal of caloric expenditure equal to the pizza or beer we consume after the ride! Fortunately, there was minimal pressure and what mattered was the effort we gave throughout the ride.

The beautiful mountainside healed the soul, adding to the boys’ positive experience at the Camp.
But it was the connections we made with the Casa Girasoles boys that were most memorable. Nate and I purchased five soccer balls for the boys to use in their games. We also gave them cool World Cup sticker books and wall posters for them to track the matches and their favorite players. Nate’s age and easy demeanor made it easy to relate with the boys, as he cycled and played soccer (the international common language!) with them on a daily basis.

United by a love of sports, Nate easily connected with the boys of Casa Girasoles.

Fellow campers were eager to share their cycling and life experience as they conducted bike maintenance workshops.
At the end of each day, Nate and I would discuss our experiences. We were both very inspired that the boys were so well-mannered, well-spoken, and well-adjusted, considering the many hardships they have experienced. It’s clear that the Casa Girasoles program is a Center of Excellence with the way it encourages communities to offer services that help youth access the quality caregiving they deserve. That’s only a small part of the equation, though. The Casa Girasoles program is successful mainly because of the boys who continue to eagerly work toward learning and self-development, and the dedicated, loving, and caring Casa Girasoles team.
You can join us and #BeTheBridge between Peruvian youth and the services and support they need by donating here.
Points of Light – wayne centrone
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne CentroneSpeaking of trying, a couple of exciting things happened over the past few weeks. Nothing profoundly earth-shattering per se – but vital to the work of HBI. One thing – our team of leaders in the Comunidad Girasoles Program (the name of all our work with formerly abandoned children – from the Casa Girasoles homes to the mentorship program to help young adults living outside of parental care) had a retreat in Lima. The directors of the Casa Girasoles in Ica and Urubamba, our team from Arequipa, and our administrative team came to Lima and met for two days. It was awesome. What made it even more remarkable was that our local leaders led the retreat. I only attended over Zoom. Why is this so important? It is a significant movement for HBI away from programs led by a North American team – and truly into programs directed and administered by the Peruvian staff. We’ve been building towards such a formative transition for over a decade.
I heard from one of our supporters this week. Mike Colbach is a prestigious Portland lawyer who has made an enormous difference by representing bicyclists injured in motor vehicle accidents. He is a passionate supporter of the Girasoles Sanos Cycling Team. Mike and a fantastic friend of HBI, Hugh Givens, committed this week to support HBI’s Casa Girasoles boys with a new bike or a donation every time he wins a case. We have received four new bikes already! Mike and Hugh are genuine points of light.
Also, this week, I learned that one of HBI’s first international interns, an amazingly gifted young person named Liz, matched with the family medicine residency program of her dreams. Not only was Liz instrumental in helping HBI restructure our school-based outreach program, but she has also been helping with the Center of Excellence Research Study throughout her busy time in medical school. What is so crucial about Liz matching for a residency program? Aside from the evident impact of such a move on her professional career, it is a massive endorsement of HBI. Liz gave so much of herself to helping HBI – and now, her efforts are paying back in some small ways. All the volunteer effort she put into our little NGO has given her the knowledge, skills, and courage to be a true leader and game changer.
Talking of game changers, Dr. Bob, HBI’s Medical Director and leader of the Newborn Resuscitation Program, is visiting for a few days. Bob has been a part of HBI from the very beginning. His leadership and mentorship have helped to shape HBI into the organization we are today. Over the next couple of days, we will meet with Karen, HBI’s Director of Operations (she’ll join over Zoom), to brainstorm and strategize about the next chapter of our organization and our impact. We’ll talk about programs – but we will also speak about vision and mission. We’ve known one another for many years. We’ve grown up professionally together. We have shared each other’s light and helped to shape one another. We are a family.
I feel that way about the work of HBI. We are a movement more than a not-for-profit. We are a big family. One thing we have always focused on is the people that are a part of the HBI family. We invest in people more than we develop programs or projects. That mindset has led us to become a lighthouse.
Our work is about sparking a light in others and uniting our actions to create a better world. Sure, HBIs efforts are very narrow in their focus and have not had a world-changing impact, but that isn’t what is important in many ways. It is essential to bring more light to the world and encourage more people to shine.
Connections – An HBI Gravel Adventure Bike Camp Testimonial by Mike Vail
/0 Comments/in Blog /by AdminI was excited to receive the Gravel Adventure Bike Camp invite from my close childhood friend, Dr. Wayne Centrone. I had last seen him nearly 30 years ago when I assisted with his move from Tallahassee to Panama City, Florida. Wayne and I had virtually linked up a few years ago through our mutual friend, Brian. The Camp provided an opportunity for the three of us to reconnect, while also supporting HBI’s Casa Girasoles Sanos group homes. These are residences where a Peruvian team of professionals provide formerly abandoned boys a stable home environment.
I shared the news of the Camp with my family, and was pleasantly surprised when my college student son, Nate, expressed interest in joining the adventure. Nate and I have a pretty good relationship, but past military requirements have caused me to miss some of his special childhood to early adulthood moments. We bond through our mutual love of soccer, and we planned on sharing our love of the sport with the Casa Girasoles boys. I was hoping (and perhaps he, too) that this adventure would be a nice bonding experience for both of us.
Karen greeted us at the Lima airport early morning of November 2 and took us to the HBI headquarters to decompress and meet Wayne. Memories flooded my thoughts as I heard his voice and laughter. He’s still my only friend who calls me by my full name! We shared memories and inside jokes over the course of the Camp, and we agreed to visit Brian in New Orleans (alas, a bad back kept him from this adventure).
The Camp was a great way to bond with my son Nate, and my childhood friend, Wayne.
Nate and I are not avid cyclists – certainly not in the same realm as our other camp adventurers. My wife and I bike once or twice a week, with the primary goal of caloric expenditure equal to the pizza or beer we consume after the ride! Fortunately, there was minimal pressure and what mattered was the effort we gave throughout the ride.
The beautiful mountainside healed the soul, adding to the boys’ positive experience at the Camp.
But it was the connections we made with the Casa Girasoles boys that were most memorable. Nate and I purchased five soccer balls for the boys to use in their games. We also gave them cool World Cup sticker books and wall posters for them to track the matches and their favorite players. Nate’s age and easy demeanor made it easy to relate with the boys, as he cycled and played soccer (the international common language!) with them on a daily basis.
United by a love of sports, Nate easily connected with the boys of Casa Girasoles.
Fellow campers were eager to share their cycling and life experience as they conducted bike maintenance workshops.
At the end of each day, Nate and I would discuss our experiences. We were both very inspired that the boys were so well-mannered, well-spoken, and well-adjusted, considering the many hardships they have experienced. It’s clear that the Casa Girasoles program is a Center of Excellence with the way it encourages communities to offer services that help youth access the quality caregiving they deserve. That’s only a small part of the equation, though. The Casa Girasoles program is successful mainly because of the boys who continue to eagerly work toward learning and self-development, and the dedicated, loving, and caring Casa Girasoles team.
You can join us and #BeTheBridge between Peruvian youth and the services and support they need by donating here.
Settling In – wayne centrone
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne CentroneThe Girasoles Sanos Cycling Team competed in their first race of the season today!
Thanks for all the messages. Many of you have expressed concern about what is happening in Peru. You have also been incredibly generous with your contributions. Thank you.
It is hard to name the current political and social climate in Peru. The unrest and civil dissent have settled into an almost routine. While much of the country’s roadways are clear of blockades, protestors still disrupt daily life in the southern regions, and the impact of the COVID pandemic, rising inflation, and political unrest are pushing thousands of people deeper into poverty. Peru is now the most “food insecure” country in Latin America – with more than half the population finding themselves “without regular access to enough safe and nutritious food.”
Things are far from “business as usual” – as the economic forecast continues to look grim and the country enters yet another month of record inflation with no end in sight. Many believe the only way forward for Peru is a radical change in the lagging social gap most of the country experiences. But how?
How can Peru – a country that nearly went bankrupt during the economic stagnation of the Shinning Path 1980s – close the profound social and economic fissures that fracture the country? The real work is settling in and taking a long-range approach to change, which is what we are doing.
The work of Health Bridges is a long game. It is always more critical than short-term challenges. Since we started this journey nearly 30 years ago, we’ve known that we would work for future generations of change. That is not to say we have lost focus on the here and now. No – we are still very committed to helping bring health, hope, home, and purpose to children, youth, young adults, and families who have lived through trauma and adverse experiences.
We are committed to settling in – for Diego, who lives in the Casa Girasoles of today, and Juan, for whom we can help prevent ever living in a residential care facility by working with his family before he is abandoned. We are committed to developing best practices and evidence-supported training that help health professionals save babies’ lives at birth. Our commitment – our work – is for all the children of Peru, and we are settled in for the long haul.
Stay connected! #BetheBridge
Peru – An Update: Finding Normal
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne CentroneA special birthday surprise for a very special Girasol.
Nearly two months in, the civil and political protests in Peru have morphed into a profoundly complex struggle between numerous factions of Peruvian society.
The hoped-for solution in Congress – moving the elections forward to a 2023 date, has been met with complete stonewalling. Multiple votes in Congress have ended without the majority needed to approve the change in elections, and now the elections commission has moved to “archive” the vote – all but completing any pathway for congressional reform under the current session of the legislative branch.
On the ground in many parts of the country, protests continue, and the anger that seems to be driving the social unrest is elevating. Finger-pointing between various factions of society has added fuel to the turmoil – with some calling the protests an orchestrated action on the part of organized crime and others calling the movement a fight for social and economic justice. News outlets reporting around Peru confirm that many of the blockades that snarled the country into a supply-chain disaster are all but mitigated – although how long the roads will remain open is anyone’s guess. The economic impacts of the situation are far from resolved.
The blockades have paralyzed significant portions of southern Peru – including Ica, Cusco, Puno, and Arequipa – and brought mining and tourism to a complete standstill. Bloomberg and top global economists estimate that the protests cost between $60 and $100 million (U.S. dollars) per day. According to the Peruvian agricultural association, the impact is particularly disruptive to the agricultural sector, with Peru reportedly losing about $300 million in farm shipments during eight weeks of the turmoil. Family-run small-scale agriculture, which supplies many of the local markets and is a way that we feed the staff and boys at the Casa Girasoles, does not have access to commercial refrigeration and farmers are losing thousands of soles per day in products they are unable to ship to markets or preserve from rotting.
As I reported in a previous blog update, the boys, staff, and families of the Casa Girasoles are all safe. However, we are still determining what the future will hold with the rapid rise in prices and the ongoing supply chain disruptions.
Our team on the ground continue to do amazing work. Advocating by building bridges with partner organizations and government programs and mobilizing services where needed. They are doing amazing work under very strain conditions. The Comunidad Girasoles team have been busy helping older ex-Girasoles caught in the economic struggle of the civil and political protests. At the Casa Girasoles, this week was a special birthday for one of the boys. Sra. Ester, recognizing the importance of bringing some normalcy to the Casa Girasoles, scrounged all around Ica to find the necessary ingredients to make a cake that brought smiles to all the boys.
We will keep you posted as we learn more. For now – please keep the people of Peru in your thoughts, prayers, and meditations – and thank you for all your ongoing generosity and support.
Remembering a Friend, Mentor, and HBI Family Member: Augusta Shipsey
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne CentroneAugusta – or the Rebar Queen as she was known on the Team Perú construction projects – was a dear friend, a constant mentor, and a true champion for the work of HBI. She was always willing to help raise money for the Casa Girasoles, put up a “Giving Tree” over the Holidays to procure donations and supplies, and lend her hand at any task or activity. Augusta was one of the first HBI Team Perú trip members – having completed too many trips to count.
The Team Perú trips for several years involved construction projects at the Casa Girasoles properties. Augusta, a grade school teacher, was not shy with a hammer or shovel. She came by her nickname Rebar Queen through honest hard work. Augusta equally matched long days on the construction sites with her penchant for teaching – and she provided many a health talk in the Peruvian Ministry of Education schools of Mala, Asia, Bujama, Ica, and Cañete, teaching oral hygiene during the Team Perú outreach clinics.
HBI is an organization that helps hundreds of children and families every day. We are able to do this important work in great part because of the kindness, support, and mentoring of Augusta Shipsey. The world was made a much better place because of Augusta Shipsey. Her kind smile will be dearly missed and remembered forever.
Thank you, dear friend. We will miss you.
From bad to . . . An update from Perú
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne CentroneA summer workshop on communication for the boys at the Casa Girasoles Urubamba.
We have heard from many of our HBI stakeholders. Thank you for your concern.
Many of you have asked how things are going “on the ground” with the Casa Girasoles and our staff with the ongoing protests and political challenges in Perú. Well, here is a brief update:
All of our staff are safe and well. The protests have directly impacted some of our staff’s families, but no one has been hurt. The children in the Casa Girasoles programs are all equally safe and well. It is summer vacation in Perú, so the kids have been hanging around the homes and staying out of street protests.
The government has announced a plan to reopen all the blocked highways in the country with “firmness and in compliance with the law.” Congress is meeting to decide the constitutionality of moving the elections forward to December 2023. President Dina Boluarte continues to hold fast to her position. She has called on Congress to determine the legality of advancing the elections and clearing the way for reforms.
What does all of this mean for the protests and social unrest raging around the country? No one knows.
In the Sacred Valley at the Casa Girasoles Urubamba, road closures have meant an area shortage of gas, propane, and many basic foodstuffs. In Ica, the city has been almost completely cut off from commerce, with the Pan-American Highway suffering from blockades for over a month. Food prices have doubled over the protests in both locations, and budgets have been considerably impacted. We are working on a long-term plan to warehouse food and supplies. Our focus is making sure the children are taken care of and safe.
Nationwide, the situation is going from bad to worse. Reports from Arequipa demonstrate a drastic reduction in tourism – with only 1 out of every ten hotel beds occupied. According to the Lima Chamber of Commerce, over 1 million formally employed workers risk losing their jobs. This an alarming statistic when one considers that more than 70% of the workforce in Perú employed in the informal sector of the economy.
We will keep you posted as more information is available. Please keep all the people of Perú in your thoughts, prayers, meditations, and considerations.
Perhaps now, more than ever – we could use your support. Please consider donating the work of our Casa Girasoles. Thanks.
Keeping an Eye on all the Pieces – wayne centrone
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne CentroneThe funny thing about any article that proclaims to have “real” insight is that it is ultimately a subjective opinion. If you ask ten Peruvians what they think is the underlying force, angst, issue, or challenge behind the current situation, you will get 11 different reasons. On top of the diverse range of opinions, the responses will more than likely contradict one another. No one agrees.
The challenges facing Perú are deeply complex. They are even more complicated depending on where you approach or view the issues. Rural vs. urban. Wealthy vs. poor. Formal education trained vs. apprenticeship formed. It is the classic parable of the blind men and the elephant. Everyone has a different opinion of what they are touching and feeling based on where they interact with the elephant. The discrepancy of view isn’t based on inaccurate information, as much as it is focused on a vantage point and perspective.
In “real” terms – the crisis in Perú is disproportionately impacting the poorest members of the country. With nearly one out of every three people living in poverty, and with the rural areas of the country representing a much higher percentage of the overall poverty experience, the road blockades, supply chain disruptions, and impact on the service economy are pushing people living on the edge . . . over the edge.
However, we choose to view the current situation in Perú. Whatever mechanism we use to discern the complexity, one thing is unquestionable . . . lives are being disrupted, and futures are getting sabotaged. We remain committed to championing children and the communities that care for them in Perú. We will continue tour dedication to envisioning a world where every child has access to health, hope, home, and purpose.
Please keep the people of Perú in your thoughts, prayers, meditations, and offerings. Thanks for all the ongoing generosity and support. Stay connected.
Protests in Perú – An Update
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne CentroneYesterday hundreds (perhaps thousands) of protestors from around the country converged on Lima. The marchers’ self-described intent was to “Take Lima.” The protestors took to the streets in the downtown area, setting fire to a historic building and leaving five families homeless and another 14 families unable to reenter their homes due to smoke damage.
Throughout the day-long marches – the city of Lima came to a standstill, with police and protestors clashing in several neighborhoods, including the predominant tourist area of Miraflores. As a result of the clashes – 38 people were injured, and one fatality was reported.
Throughout the country – from Madre de Dios to Cusco to Arequipa, clashes between protestors and police have resulted in tremendous property damage and over 50 casualties and hundreds of injuries since the demonstrations started in December. At this time, the demonstrators remain committed to their demands: Resignation of the current president, the closing of Congress, the release of former President Castillo and Constituent Assembly, and early elections. However, nearly all of their requests are difficult and, more accurately, impossible for the government to comply fully.
The HBI team is safe. Our Casa Girasoles programs continue to run smoothly, and all the boys and staff are safe and well. The most immediate impact of the protests has been the skyrocketing prices. The cost of most foodstuffs has doubled over the past month. The escalating cost of many goods and services has stretched our budget. Adding to the challenge, road blockades on the PanAmerican Highway north of Ica and to and from the Sacred Valley have made it very challenging for staff to travel.
The government has reported that over $150 million U.S. dollars have been lost in agricultural exports and that “90% of small farmers’ production was spoiled due to the latest road blockades.” Protestors have re-damaged the rail tracks connecting the Sacred Valley of Cusco with Machu Picchu – potentially further disrupting tourism for weeks to come.
What happens next and how the political and social turmoil ends are anyone’s guess. One thing is pretty straightforward – the longer the protests go on – the more long-term impact they will have on the people of Perú. We will keep you posted on all updates.
Thank you for your continued support and all your ongoing concern.
Good is good, and we can do more – wayne centrone
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne CentroneMiguel is registered to race in the Rally Tortoritas on 18 February
Beneficence is the act of doing good through charitable kindness or gifts. Beneficence is a central component of medical practice and critical to caring for others. More is needed.
Miguel (not his real name) is an incredibly talented cyclist. He is always the ride leader for the Girasoles Sanos Team. Miguel is brilliant, kind, and blessed with a balance of keen intellect and profound emotional intelligence. He is an amazing young man, and he has unlimited potential. He dreams of one day becoming an engineer.
Miguel comes from a biological family marked by violence, neglect, and substance abuse. He came to live at the Casa Girasoles after spending time in a state-run orphanage and living on the streets. Miguel has had contact with his family throughout his time in the child welfare system. The pain of knowing his family could not take care of him – and having frequent contact with them, has been very hard on him.
At 18, Miguel is ready to leave the Casa Girasoles Program. His family has been contacting him more and more. They want him to come and live at their home in Lima. They want him to work and support their aging mother. This is a typical scenario. At the time of emancipation from child-welfare services, families like Miguel’s seek to reunite with their sons – often not to heal wounds or build new relationships. Time and time again, the young men who exit orphanages, state-run homes or residential care facilities find themselves living as indentured servants . . . caught in a dysfunctional web as their futures become hostage to the same trauma that trapped them in their childhood.
Perú is going through a tremendous time of challenge. The social and political unrest is quickly pushing the country into an economic spiral. The events that led to the current situation are not unprecedented. In fact, the struggles of Perú are deep seated and multifactorial. One thing is, however, ever present – people living in the experience of extreme poverty are disproportionately impacted in times of economic, political, and social upheaval. Families like Miguel’s, who were previously teetering on the edge – are now falling into the abyss.
Miguel has gained so much from his time at the Casa Girasoles. He is, however, facing a future with many challenges. We can change that. We can be the bridge!
Now, more than ever – your support is helping us to build futures. Thank you.
Rippling Waves – wayne centrone
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne CentroneRoad closures and blockades around Perú.
Yesterday the Congress of Perú passed a confidence vote in the new government. The Congressional vote granted the vote of confidence to the ministerial cabinet headed by Alberto Otárola. This seemingly insignificant act of Congress has already brought wide spread demonstrations and increased agitation amongst the protestors.
Whatever hope there was for a peaceful resolution to the political and social unrest that began after the inauguration of President Dina Boluarte in December following the failed coup d’état of former President Pedro Castillo, have left 46 deaths. Around the country protestors have taken to the streets – blocking roads and marching in solidarity. The police and military have been in hours long standoff with a group of protestors attempting to take control of the Cusco airport. Differing groups of protestors have erupted into violent clashes with one another in the Puerto Maldonado. The media in Perú are now referring to the social and political unrest as Perú en crisis.
The people suffering the most are those that have long-lived in extreme poverty. The Peruvian Ministry of Economy estimates the impact from the protests to exceed S/.300 million so far this year. Some of the poorest regions in the country are also areas with the most protests and the greatest disruption to their economies.
What happens next is impossible to know. One thing is clear, the situation has gone from bad to worse. Please keep Perú and the Peruvian people in your thoughts.