Cousteau Community Service Day in Cusco

Yesterday, 19 Remotes hopped on a bus and headed to the Azul Wasi orphanage, just outside of Cusco.  Azul Wasi is a non profit home for at-risk children and teens that were abandoned on the streets of Cusco.  We brought lunch and ate with the kids; cleaned up the greenhouse & planted veggies and fruits; did arts and crafts with the kids; played futbol together; etc.  Also, we donated our fundraiser $ for the kids to buy warm winter clothes.  Special thanks to Arestia, Max, Kirsten, Sam & Travis for organizing this awesome event.

The thing that struck me about this orphanage was how loving and warm the kids were!  I’ve volunteered at orphanages and children’s homes before, but often the kids are a bit standoffish.  Not the kids of Azul Wasi!  They greet you with big hugs, and they are all very warm and sweet!  They genuinely seemed really happy to have us there, and welcomed us with open arms.  I think this is a testament to Alcides, the warm father figure who runs the home and creates a beautiful environment for them to learn and grow.

Alcides, introducing us to the home, and each of the kids.

I hope that our work in the greenhouse proves fruitful for the kids!  I hope that they use the $ we donated wisely.  And, I hope that the kids get more support from other groups like ours.  

When I return to Cusco, I will do my best to return to Azul Wasi.  

Cousteau Clean Up Crew!

Today was the first community service event for Remote Year 3!  

Shortly after we arrived in Argentina, we assembled a positive impact committee to organize events in each city.  Travis and Arestia masterfully spearheaded a Park Clean Up Day, which was a huge success.  Parque Sarmiento is the largest public park in Córdoba, and my favorite running location.  It gets a lot of use by the locals every day, and there are many events there on the weekends.

We were divided into teams of 4.  Heather, Johnson, Kelly and myself tied for 1st place with 8 total bags!  I spent a good amount of time combing the shore of the lake, which was so gross.  I won’t even get into the stuff I came across, but let’s just say, it needed to be done.

Together, we picked up 61 large trash bags full of nasty junk!  We made a big difference.  I hope future Remote Year groups will carry on this tradition and keep Parque Sarmiento clean!

Photo Credit: Gonzalo Martinez