The Lobitos Crew gathers for a sad farewell to our Canadian duo!
As my journey here at WAVES comes to an end I look back and think of what I will take from this experience and it is hard to put into words. I have gained such a great appreciation for so many things that people take for granted on a daily basis. The experience I have obtained over the short period of time I have been in northern Peru, from their culture and life style to their natural sights, has open my eyes to a new outlook on life. Travelling and seeing different sights and cultures around the world brings a whole new perspective to your outlook on life but to be able to know you gave back whilst experiencing the beauties of the northern coast of Peru is such an amazing feeling.
Let me describe one of these moments where you feel good about yourcontribution and experience at WAVES. WAVES has implemented a new micro-finance program to help the locals get the common necessities others take for granted such as concrete flooring and sturdy roofs. As a part of this program, WAVES were assisting in the funding for a man who couldn’t walk to have a transportable wheel chair so that he was no longer confined to his home and unable to live a full and inclusive life. I was lucky enough to be there when we brought the wheel chair to his home and gave him a human right that is sometimes over looked in areas with less resources. This gesture of kindness brought his mother to tears. I fought back the lump in my throat and just embraced the moment where I was part of changing a families life for the better. I was on such a high for the rest of the day. Right there made my contribution and time at WAVES worth it to me. The independence this wheel chair will bring to his life cannot be described in words.
A touching moment for everybody as a Lobitos local is granted more freedom and mobility.
This is an experience I wish more could have and is why I would encourage anyone to participate in any form of volunteering whether it be at WAVES or in their own community.
