This morning I was going through my desk, as I hunker down for a long period of working from home. I found a bunch of old pictures. Some of the photographs were from a medical outreach campaign we did well over 20 years ago. A medical outreach project to a community where we still work today.
The pictures, aside from the young faces, tell an astonishing story of our history. From the work we originally did providing direct care to underserved communities, to our work developing advocacy programs, model service delivery programs, and training health professionals . . . we have come a long way as an organization. Now, in the face of this global epidemic, we are working as an organization to really make sure we have the knowledge, skills, tools and resources to best serve the communities we are called to serve.
Today was the first day the team for our Ines Project, a project for medically fragile children and their families, met virtually. Our team got together on web cameras in various parts of the city of Lima and worked to assure families living in significant poverty with children with medically fragile conditions and living with a disability, have the resources, advocacy, and services they need to best take care of themselves . . . in this extraordinary time.
I am so proud of our team. I am so proud where we’ve come as an organization. When I look back at the old pictures and I see the work we did; and now, the work that we are doing – it is astonishing how much we have grown.
We are as committed as ever to building bridges.
I am excited to see how much more we will learn and grow as we respond to the challenges facing the communities we serve in the face of the global pandemic – and in the new climate and culture that will surely form.
Building Bridges
/0 Comments/in Blog, COVID-19 /by Wayne CentroneGedeon, one of the boys in our Casa Girasoles program, paints amazing works of culture and inspiration. He was recently accepted to one of Perú’s most acclaimed art schools.
The COVID-19 pandemic has made it really hard to stay focused on all the immediate and urgent needs – and plan for the bigger future. This is particularly important when it comes to building opportunities for the older boys who ‘graduate’ from the Casa Girasoles program. They are getting older – in-spite of the social isolation and mandatory quarantine, and we need to help them build bridges to the next phase of their lives.
Ideally, every boy in our Casa Girasoles Program would apply and be granted a government supported scholarship to study at university. The challenge – not all the boys are best matched to a university education; and, the program is extremely competitive. As such, we face a daunting challenge of building our own graduation program.
We’re fortunate to be in partnership with Paths of Hope and their amazing team of Kate and Billy Greenman. Together we’re working on a plan for the older boys – but everything has been stalled with COVID-19. So, without a lot of formal programs – we’re taking it case-by-case, boy-by-boy.
Yesterday I had a call with a faith-based NGO that runs a program in Cusco. They accept young adults transitioning from orphanages or homes. In addition to helping with school enrollment – university, technical or trade school – they also provide housing, case support, psychological therapy and life skills development. It’s a great program. They’ve graciously accepted three boys from our Casa Girasoles in the Sacred Valley. Read more
It is not suppose to be easy
/0 Comments/in Blog, COVID-19 /by Wayne CentroneBoys at the Casa Girasoles participating in school lessons during COVID-19.
Things are really tough. I am convinced this is true for all 7.5 billion people on the planet. The challenges are, however, more profound and impactful for the poor of this world. This is especially true for the people we serve in Perú. The families living in extreme poverty with children living with disabilities and medically fragile conditions are really struggling. They are hard pressed to figure out how to make each day manageable.
The boys in our Casa Girasoles homes are safe, well fed and protected, but the challenges of social isolation are starting to weigh heavy on them. For a child who has lived so much of their life on constant hyper-vigilance, always ready to protect themself from injury our harm – the current state of the world can be too much. There are more outbursts. More temper-tantrums for the little ones. More strong words from the older boys. Things are tough. Read more
Finding a New Normal
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne CentroneIt’s hard enough figuring out the 6-foot rule that now governors our lives. Let alone trying to determine how to go about life in the age of social isolation, quarantines, and mandatory restrictions. The fleeting moments of “normal” are quickly usurped by the overwhelming realization there is no normal as we have known it for most of our lives.
Finding a new normal is the focus. Finding a new way to connect with the people on our team who are on the ground and facing great challenges in meeting the needs of the families we serve. Helping the staff at the Casa Girasoles find some level of normalcy for the children in our homes. Normalcy that includes laughing and playing, and just being kids.
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Chop Wood, Carry Water
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne CentroneWhen I was in college, a mentor gave me a book. It changed my life. The book, a Buddhist meditation on building a life of commitment, has never felt more pertinent.
Chop Wood, Carry Water is an exploration of the idea that the most divine moments of life come not in the glamorous and glorious – but in the mundane and routine. It is meditation on finding spiritual awakening through a commitment to the daily experiences of life . . . . chopping wood and carrying water. Read more
We’re a Family
/0 Comments/in Blog, COVID-19 /by Wayne CentroneOne thing I am finding extremely important in this very uncertain time – staying connected to our HBI team.
Today, on two continents in 20 different locations – all 38 people who make up the HBI team met on a Zoom internet call. It was the first time, virtually or physically we’ve gotten our whole team together . . . and, it was great.
Being together today – with variable audio connections and a multitude of interpretations of virtual meeting etiquette – it was just awesome. It was so great to see the totality of our family. And, that’s really what the meeting was all about – being together as an HBI family. This challenge has pulled us together It has made us stronger. Read more
Building Bridges
/8 Comments/in Blog, COVID-19 /by Wayne CentroneThis morning I was going through my desk, as I hunker down for a long period of working from home. I found a bunch of old pictures. Some of the photographs were from a medical outreach campaign we did well over 20 years ago. A medical outreach project to a community where we still work today.
The pictures, aside from the young faces, tell an astonishing story of our history. From the work we originally did providing direct care to underserved communities, to our work developing advocacy programs, model service delivery programs, and training health professionals . . . we have come a long way as an organization. Now, in the face of this global epidemic, we are working as an organization to really make sure we have the knowledge, skills, tools and resources to best serve the communities we are called to serve.
Today was the first day the team for our Ines Project, a project for medically fragile children and their families, met virtually. Our team got together on web cameras in various parts of the city of Lima and worked to assure families living in significant poverty with children with medically fragile conditions and living with a disability, have the resources, advocacy, and services they need to best take care of themselves . . . in this extraordinary time.
I am so proud of our team. I am so proud where we’ve come as an organization. When I look back at the old pictures and I see the work we did; and now, the work that we are doing – it is astonishing how much we have grown.
We are as committed as ever to building bridges.
I am excited to see how much more we will learn and grow as we respond to the challenges facing the communities we serve in the face of the global pandemic – and in the new climate and culture that will surely form.
We’re Building Bridges
/0 Comments/in Blog, COVID-19 /by Wayne CentroneThere is an expression in public health parlance. It says – if the U.S. and Western Europe sneeze, the rest of the world will get the flu. Well, the sneeze has been felt around the world and things in Latin America are challenging to say the very least.
Perú has declared a national state of emergency. The country is on lock-down. The police are starting to enforce a ban on movement and social engagement. They’re holding people who are in violation. Read more
March 11, 2020: The President of Perú released an Emergency Decree
/0 Comments/in COVID-19 /by Wayne CentroneThe President of Perú released an Emergency Decree, published in the official newspaper El Peruano. The decree helps to shore up public health and emergency response and states that “those who enter the national territory [Perú] from countries with an epidemiological history will be subject to isolation for 14 days.” Currently the United States is not specifically listed as one of the countries requiring a mandatory 14-day quarantine. Countries specifically listed include: China, France, Italy, and Spain.
I Want to Vote in Perú – Dr. Bob Gehringer
/0 Comments/in Blog /by AdminI want to vote in Perú. Last week, Sunday, was a special national congressional election. Always Sundays, which seems much more reasonable than our workday Tuesdays. With high level corruption rampant, politics are more of a mess here right now than in the U.S., if that’s possible. The entire congress had been dissolved a few months ago and everyone was up for election. Voting is required in Perú and the alternative is a modest fine, though those my age and older are excused if they wish, dottering as we are.
We discovered that our 4th floor Arequipa corner apartment on the edge of old Yanahuara was immediately across from a polling place in a school, and while sipping my coffee at 7:30 in the morning I noticed a young woman, dressed in army camo fatigues and carrying an automatic weapon. She had placed herself near the school entrance, as large ballot like signs were hung and polling workers began to show up. Looked very official if not threatening. Simultaneously, in counterpoint, two ice cream vendors arrived with bright yellow push carts sprouting large umbrellas. Subsequently, two blocks were cordoned off as police redirected inconvenienced motorists at each end. Read more
Dedication and Difficulties
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne CentroneI feel incredibly blessed to do the work we are doing. I am continually reminded what a great privilege it is to be in the lives of the people we serve. There are, however, days when the challenges and difficulties feel really heavy.
This has been a particularly challenging week for our team. Here are a couple short stories that speak to the dedication and commitment of our amazing team –
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