Uncategorized - Part 28

June 7, 2024 by Ashley Welter

Peru: Foundations of Global Health (July 19 – August 1, 2024)

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

TIME CAPSULE LETTER

Written by David & the Peru Team

Hi, how are you?
Hola, como estás?
Allinllachu, imanalla?

Time has gone by like a blink of an eye, we’re all hoping that your experience was meaningful and that you might remember every minute we had the opportunity to be together. Now Cusco feels far away from our homes, the weather might be different, and the streets don’t look the same anymore; but we know that every stone, every corner, every smell and the bright sun still lives with us every time we see a mountain or probably when we find something related to our clinic work.

Can you remember the first day you were at the airport? The first time you got to see the shinning blue sky. The first time you got into your room and thought “this will be my home for the next two weeks” Maybe the first time you felt the cold in the mornings or how the sun warmed you like a gentle hug coming from our beloved “Tayta Inti”.

Can you guys believe how long it’s been since we were all together eating dinner at randomized tables, getting winded walking around Cusco, and playing Mafia in Peru? We hope you guys enjoyed the rest of your summers and have started off the new school year strong (and as leaders!)

We wanted to reminisce with you all about our incredible 14 days together. We laughed, learned, sang, TikTok-ed, and danced our way into so many new friendships. From Cusco to each clinic community to Aguas Calientes and back, we got to see such unique and special places of Peru while learning about its culture and people.

We’re also so proud of how hard you all worked every day of service! From the reality tour, all 4 communities we did clinics in, to the round table, you guys paid close attention, focused on the work in front of you, and took time to learn new Spanish or Quechua words and to learn about healthcare in that region. Just in case you guys have forgotten your impact, you helped see more than 440 patients in Huambutio, Chaquepay, Quillahuata, and Huacarpay— amazing job!

We know that some of you guys found out that you really liked (or really didn’t like!) certain specialties, and we hope that that knowledge helps you as you make decisions about your futures. From taking blood pressure, height, and weight to holding dental tools to writing prescriptions to playing “arriba / abajo” to putting the right medicines in the right places, we hope you guys truly know and remember what an impact you guys made!

We also got to learn so much about Peruvian and Quechuan cultures. We watched the Shaman perform the “Pago a la Tierra” ceremony, had dance class, got to try our hands at Peruvian instruments (shout out to Sahana for being a natural!) and even got to practice our wok skills at cooking class. (Dinner at Jaben’s restaurant soon? Just tell us the time and place.) So many of you guys bought llama and alpaca clothing as well, and we hope that not only does it keep you warm, but that it reminds you of your time together in Peru.

There were so many highlights of this program that it’s hard to even start listing them out! The whitewater rafting day was a group favorite, and for such good reason. (P.S. we hope you’re better by now, Jack.) We paddled so hard through the class 2 and 3 rapids that our bodies were sore the next day, but it was so worth it for the experience and the views on the river. I think we also all enjoyed the mini zip line adventure too.

We also got to experience the beautiful Maras salt mines, where we not only got amazing photos, but everyone stocked up on salt and chocolate. It was so neat to learn that each of those pools belonged to a specific family and that you had to be part of the community to own one! That day we also visited Andean Colors, where we pet llamas and alpacas, got to watch the wool making and dying process, and then shop to our heart’s content while knowing we were supporting a great business.

And no one could forget perhaps the most beautiful place we visited— Machu Picchu! It’s no surprise that it’s one of the 7 Wonders of the World. Y’all had great attitudes while waiting at the bus stop as early as 7am, and I think we can all agree it was worth the early wake up call. It’s incredible to experience the tour of the ancient Inca city and to see that view, and “I fear” it was made even more special by experiencing it together.

We were also proud of the ways that you stretched your leadership skills during mentor groups, as Leaders of the Day, with daily debriefs and appreciation circle, during the Social Sync, our amazing debate, “Challenging Assumptions,” “Cool as a Cucumber,” and of course our OMG. Each of you stepped up to be a leader in different ways, and we hope that you continue to grow as leaders and life-long learners. Don’t forget our OMG: being consistently more empathetic and less judgmental. We hope that each of you have taken things that you learned during this experience home with you to grow yourselves, better your communities, and help our world.

We miss eating yummy food, playing games as a big group, seeing unique places, even the long bus rides, and helping to create a more beautiful world with each and every one of you!

Kindly,

David Flor
Mateo Coello
AC Rowland

Until we see each other again, Thanks!
Hasta que nos volvamos a ver, Gracias!
Yapamanta Tupananchikama, Yupaychany!

Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!

Here are a few things to know and expect:

Blog posts are written by onsite program staff and/or students and sent to our Headquarters team who will post the blog on this page.
We typically receive 2-3 blog updates per week from each program, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post every day – that’s totally normal.
Blog updates received late in the evening or overnight will be posted the following day.
Blog updates received on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
Due to many factors such as internet accessibility, program staff aren’t always able to send photos, so some blog posts may contain text only.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.

For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

P.S. Are you interested in supporting the Global Leadership Adventures International Foundation? We invite you to learn more about GLAIF and consider donating here.

Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 19

Buenas Noches from Peru! 🇵🇪

This morning we all arrived in Cusco within just a few hours of each other, and were all able to be at the homebase by lunchtime. (With the exception of the final member of our group, who we can’t wait to meet tomorrow!) We ate a pasta lunch before settling into our afternoon activities of orientation, health checks, and our first walk into the city to see Cusco. This was also our first chance to shop a bit! Our group is already getting to know one another, and we’re really excited to see more of Cusco and dive into our service in the next few days too.

Hasta mañana!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 20

Hi friends and family!

Today, we started our day with a later breakfast. We then did our first leadership activity, the Social Sync, where we talked about social media and technology. We then walked around Cusco and went to the San Pedro Market, where there were many vendors selling various things from clothes to spices to sweets.

After this, we went back to home base and we had lunch of rice, pasta, beef, and veggies. Soon after, we took a bus up a mountain and experienced a Quechua ritual called “Pago a La Tierra” to pay respect to “pacha mama” (Mother Earth). After this experience, we walked down the mountain and we had some delicious ice cream.

We then returned to home base and we had our daily debrief and then we had dinner. Right after, we had mentor groups and got to know more about one another. Tomorrow is our first service day and we can’t wait to get started!

—Jack and Jaben

BLOG POST FOR JULY 21

Hi friends and family,

This morning we had an early breakfast before heading off to our Reality Tour. This was led by our MedLife representative, Natalie, who showed us several rural communities around the region of Cusco that lack access to education, healthcare, electricity, and water. We also had lunch with a view at an overlook! We also had a presentation by Natalie at the homebase about what we’ll be doing over the next few days.

After that we had some free time, where some of us played cards, and then we had the opportunity to the square for Starbucks and food. We then had a group discussion about SMART goals— specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. We had time to journal some goals and then share with the group. Then we split into mentor groups where we further debriefed the journaling exercise.

We also had birthday cake at dinner tonight, celebrating Aoife’s 16th birthday! Now we’re enjoying some free time before heading to bed to prepare to for an early start for tomorrow’s clinics.

—Erich (Lennon and Mckenna crashed before we could write the blog— watch out for a different one by them next week!)

BLOG POST FOR JULY 22

Hola!

It’s day 4 in Peru, and today we woke up at 6:45, with breakfast at 7. (Lots of us LOVED the avocado toast today!) We left at 7:45 to take a bus to our first community of the medical clinics. Once we arrived we got put in our stations and began to set up for the day of treating patients. The stations included triage, dental, pharmacy, general practice, and tooth brushing (for kids.) We switched stations halfway through the day, so we got to do more things. In these stations we got to interact with patients one-on-one, practice our spanish, and implement medical skills.

Following the first successful day in the clinic we had a fun bus ride on our way back to the hotel. In the evening we played group games like mafia and learned stories about the loca Quechua culture. We ate a yummy Peruivan dinner and closed the night off with more group games.

We’re excited to visit a different community for tomorrow’s clinics!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 23

Written by: Clara & Sam

After our trip to Machu Picchu, we were all exhausted. So today, we enjoyed a LOVELY DELICIOUS CLASSIC GLA LATE BREAKFAST after sleeping in until 9. Our fantastic leader of the day encouraged the group to have a yoga class led by our amazing mentor, Martha! (Thanks Martha) many people let go of their negative energy and stretched/exercised their bodies. Our breakfast consisted of bagels, avocados, fruits and veggies, banana pancakes, and potato cakes.

After enjoying our late breakfast, we moved on to the infamous GLA debate. Our debate prompt was whether the government should approve the construction of a new road, and if it would be beneficial or detrimental to the communities in the road, we also had to keep in mind the effect on the environment. We had four groups, each arguing for different things. Our debate was filled with energy, passion, and some awkward moments, but it was all in a respectful manner. After two hours of debating filled with many logical arguments and emotional statements in the end, the government (Your leaders of the day!) came up with a compromise to build the road and also preserve our environment and Incan culture. After a hearty debate, we had lunch! A delicious chicken stew (eggplant stew for vegetarians), rice, bread, yuca, guacamole, and some refreshing passion fruit juice.

After lunch, we headed to the roundtable. Roundtable is where we follow up with formal patients and hear their stories and how their situation is now. The first family visited was an older couple. Due to their poverty and old age, they are unable to make means to live. They live off a small pension the government gives them. They also had a daughter who had physical and mental disabilities. The whole family’s state was very striking and eye-opening. Despite their difficult living situation, their gratefulness was inspiring. After giving them some food and supplies, they continued to smile and give us their blessings.

Then, we headed to a second family. As soon as we walked in, the mother cried as her small children huddled around her. She told us how she was abandoned by her husband, and without a husband, she was struggling to afford food to feed her family. All of us were listening very intently. However, it was a lot to take in. On the bus ride home, we were contemplating what we heard and what we could do to help. Visiting these impoverished families was very uncomfortable and sad, but it gave us all new perspectives and made us much more grateful for our fortunate situation.

After we got home, we had a delicious meal and had a meaningful conversation about what we had seen.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 23

Hola familia! Today was our second day at the clinic and the fifth day overall. Many of us enjoyed the toothbrush station where we were able to play with the kids. The clinic was successful with over 100 patients seen and taken care of! For lunch, we had a very delicious chicken wrap and tried a new fruit called granadilla. After the clinic, we experienced a Peruvian dance class which was definitely a highlight of the trip. We ended our night with mentor groups where we reflected on our experience with GLA so far and how it has impacted us. After that, we played a large group game of among us/mafia! Adios amigos!

-Sahana, Maddee, and Julia

BLOG POST FOR JULY 24

Hi friends and family!

Today was our day 3 at clinic. We woke up early like usual to get ready to head to the clinic. Quillahuata was only 45 minutes away, extremely close compared to the previous clinics. Once we arrived we noticed that the clinics quality was alot nicer than the previous clinics we have been to.

Once everything was ready, patients started to arrive. After an hour and a half, we switched stations. Some rotation switches were made so that everyone was happy with their stations! Because Quillahuata was closer than the other places we went to, we were back earlier to the home base. During this free time, most of us went shopping and to McDonald in Cuzco.

Then, we went back to our home base. We had a music class, where we learned a wide range of instruments from Peru. We also got to try some of the instruments! After our music class, we had our daily debrief and a pulse check, which is an activity where the directors get feedback from us about the program. To end the day off, we ate some delicious Peruvian food and played mafia!

-Andrew, Alice & Gabrielle

BLOG POST FOR JULY 25 & 26

Hola families!

We started out the day yesterday bright and early, as we made our way from Cusco to the salt mines. Our first stop was at Salineras de Maras (a salt mine) where we learned about the process of how salt was created. After buying souvenirs, we headed to Andean Colors. Here we got to eat a delicious lunch, where we got to try Guinea pig, and later got to meet some of the llamas, alpacas, and guinea pigs. We also got to see the process of wool being dyed and had the opportunity to support local community by buying 100% authentic llama wool clothes. Finally, we ended our day by taking the train to Aguas Calientes (after many train delays) to prepare for our trek to Machu Picchu.

Today, we woke up at 6:00 am to start heading up on a bus to Machu Picchu. We got there at 9:00 am and hiked through the amazing views as we learned about the Inca culture. We walked through this wonder of the world, truly appreciating the amazing experience. After the tour, we headed back down the mountain by bus, getting more chances to see the Andes moutains that keep this amazing city hidden. We came back to the city of Aguas Calientes to stop and get lunch. Then, we headed back to the bus to make the journey back to Cusco. We ended the day with daily debrief and dinner, and are looking forward to our last clinic day tomorrow.

-Isabella and Lilliana

BLOG POST FOR JULY 27 & 28

Hello Family and Friends, as the trip comes to a close so do the activities.

On day 9 of the program, we had our last service day attending to the small rural town of Huacarpay. It was the most challenging day as we received the most patients. Fun Fact: the lake contained within the town is the last remaining water that use to engulf of what is the modern day city of Cuzco, Peru. With all of the service days we saw a total of over 400 patients! As day 9 came to a close we had a leadership activity: challenging assumptions. This activity made the students confront possible biases they had before the trip and how that might change after the trip.

On day 10 we had a later start to the day, waking up at 8. We went to our cooking class, where we learned how to cook local Peruvian foods: Lomo saltado and Picarones. The students not only prepared the dishes but were able to cook their own portion sizes on the stove. Jaben, Andrew, and Lennon stood on top in regard to their cooking skills. Everyone was given a turn to use the wok and make their own food and also make their own “doughnuts”/Picarones. People also were able to make fresh passion fruit juice to share at the table while we ate are dishes we made.

That afternoon, we also had our Roundtable with Medlife. This was an opportunity to see how Medlife follows up with patients that need more medical attention than the clinic can offer. We visited a patient in Pisac, about a 40 minute drive away.

With our last service hours behind us, we’re looking forward to our rafting day next!

-Andrew, Erich, Jaben, Jack, and Lennon

BLOG POST FOR JULY 29

Hola families!

Today was definitely our favorite day so far! We began the day with a long drive to Cusipata where we white water rafted. This was a first time experience for many of us, and the class 3 white water lived up to our expectations. After a delicious lunch of Quinoa soup, chicken, rice, and beets, we climbed a tall tower and zip lined across the river.

Next, we drove back to home base, rested for a few ours, ate a delicious dinner of chicken wings, and ended our day with a leadership activity. This activity taught us what kinds of leaders we are, and it was interesting to see which category each of us fell into.

Adios family!! See you soon!

-Julia, Maddee, and Sahana

BLOG POST FOR JULY 30 & 31

¡Hola familias y amigos!!

As we arrived at the end of our GLA trip we also wrapped up the leadership activities. On Tuesday, after a morning of sleeping in and a nice breakfast, everyone gathered outside in the courtyard for a debate regarding culture, morality, and ethics within Peru. Every student spoke and overall, this was a great learning experience.

Following the debate, we had some free time. During this free time kids tanned, ate snacks and rested up. Next we went to an art musuem focused on historical, religious, and cultural aspects of Peru. Mateo, our tour guide, followed us through the museum with explanations from each exhibit. After the tour, we explored the shops just outside the museum and shopped for ourselves and our families.

We then wrapped up shopping and had a short walk back to homebase. We relaxed until it was time for our next meal, dinner at home base. Dinner was exciting with randomized tables and fun groups. We finished the night up with a trip to the minimart for yummy snacks and lots of laughs.

Then yesterday was our last day 🙁 We spent most of our time shopping around and eating delicious confectionaries from local cafes. We also wrapped up our goals with the OMG activity, where we talked about our goals after this trip and created a goal as a group as well. In addition, we had our last mentor group, discussing what we have learned and gained from this trip. We had our last dinner as a group, all sitting around in one table, reminiscing this one-of-a-kind experience. We all dressed up and took really cute pictures, and then ended the day with the very last activity: appreciation circle. After that, we all played some mafia and card games together.

¡Adios (for the last time ❤️)!

-Aoife, Bella, Gabi, Lauren, Lilli, and Soraya

June 7, 2024 by Ashley Welter

Peru: Foundations of Global Health (July 2 – July 15, 2024)

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

TIME CAPSULE LETTER

Written by David & the Peru Team

Hi, how are you?
Hola, como estás?
Allinllachu, imanalla?

Time has gone by like a blink of an eye, we’re all hoping that your experience was meaningful and that you might remember every minute we had the opportunity to be together. Now Cusco feel far away from our homes, the weather might be different, and the streets don’t look the same anymore; but we know that every stone, every corner, every smell and the bright sun still lives with us every time we see a mountain or probably when we find something related to our clinic work.

The first days filled with new food, new people and new places; going around the city and walking the same steps people have walked for over 500 years, can you fell the first time you ate coca leaves and tasted “weird” or “bitter” most of you didn’t like them that much but did enjoy the coca tea from time to time. Can you remember your intentions at the “Pago a la tierra” ceremony and how our Shaman “Cesar Augusto” played like a child in the forest as he said, “look at me, I’m 250 Y.O. but I can still play as a kid!”.
After those first few days we went on our reality tour and had the chance to see many places far away from home base like the viewpoint at Ccorao and the viewpoint at Taray (where we also had our first packed lunch) with the amazing view of Urubamba River and the way to the sacred valley. The visit to the health center at Taray and how that started to change our perspective about public health and the many differences that may exist between a small town, a small city and a big city. Realizing how distances and transportation can play a big role in how people can access to health services like doctors or even medicine.

After that our first clinic day! Going to the communities and having an eye-opening experience feeling how all the work became very “real” at that moment, with a bit of confusion here and there all of you started to get the hang of clinic work and how a mobile clinic develops in so many different places and situations. Whether you were first at the Hygiene station, Toothbrush, Education, Triage, Doctor, Dental or Pharmacy you might recall the first impression and impact we had in communities and with ourselves. Going to communities and going back to Cusco it always felt like every time we were different people, getting to HB tired but with the achievement of have been able to help.

Five days had gone by that moment when we all started packing our overnight bags to take our long trip to get to Machu Picchu, getting up early in the morning and going in the bus for Maras salt mines, walking around and learning how there can be salt water so up in the mountains! Later going to Andean colors, learning the weaving techniques the coloring process and how these magnificent artisans create this one-of-a-kind clothes and pieces of art at the same time (don’t forget the bracelet!). The road to Ollantaytambo filled with magnificent views of the mountains, the mystical train ride at night in the dark and suddenly arriving to Aguas Calientes before our brief rest at the hotel and the very (5am) early morning preparing for MP. For those who were at the clinic still on that day, can you remember running back to HB to pack our things as quick as possible to meet the group in Ollantaytambo? Woooh, we almost didn’t make it! But…we did (yeah!)

Can you picture in your mind how it first felt when we started walking up the path and saw the first constructions in the mountain? Or maybe when we were at the terrace and had that awesome view from the citadel? We traded the cold weather for a burning sun, we traded our conversations for a mesmerizing silence contemplating the magnificence of the engineering and how that was built so up in the mountains, the cultivating terraces, the rives below representing the Snake (Hurin ‘or Uku’ Pacha), the mountain on the side representing the Puma (Kay Pacha) and the carved stone representing the Condor (Hanan pacha).

Then going back to Cusco for our last clinic day filled with excitement and lots of feelings, our cooking class with those yummy picarones and round table as a close for clinics; the visit to the Qorikancha museum, remember the last couple of days with closing activities, cafés, shopping for souvenirs and packing with a bittersweet feeling? Knowing that even though we were all excited about going back to our homes we will be also missing our time in Cusco, the people, our walks through the city and the fireworks at night during “Inty raymy”.

With the best of luck and warm hearts all the Staff hope you’ve had a meaningful experience and your goals to be: More open minded, self-aware, grateful and contribute to you community to have a positive impact keep flourishing! And, you never know, maybe sometime in the future if you get back to Cusco you will find yourself again in tiny details and relive the experience.

Kindly,

David Flor
Mateo Coello
Mary Malone
Jess

Until we see each other again, Thanks!
Hasta que nos volvamos a ver, Gracias!
Yapamanta Tupananchikama, Yupaychany!

Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!

Here are a few things to know and expect:

Blog posts are written by onsite program staff and/or students and sent to our Headquarters team who will post the blog on this page.
We typically receive 2-3 blog posts per week from each program, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post every day – that’s totally normal.
Blog updates received on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
Due to many factors such as internet accessibility, program staff aren’t always able to send photos, so some blog posts may contain text only.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.

For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

P.S. Are you interested in supporting the Global Leadership Adventures International Foundation? We invite you to learn more about GLAIF and consider donating here.

Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 2

Hola families! All of the students made it to Cusco by 2pm, with no major flight delays! Woo!! After some time to rest, we completed orientation, had dinner, and then took our first walk in our mentor groups to Plaza De Armas. This area is the heart of Cusco and only a short walk from our home base. We enjoyed seeing the mountains all lit up and taking time to get to know everyone. We have so many fun things to look forward to this week! Tomorrow we will go to our first market, and participate in the Pago a La Tierra ceremony that will be led by a local shaman. This week we will begin our service work with MEDLIFE mobile clinics and take time to explore the sacred valley. Our blog will be updated everyday with photos, stay tuned to see our adventures!

¡Hasta Pronto!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 3

Hola,

This morning we got to sleep in a little bit till around 8 am. After a great breakfast we walked down to the San Pedro Mercado (a market) as a group. It was so cool to interact with the locals there, and to practice our spanish. We saw people selling juice, jewelry, clothing, meat, cheese, fruit, and much more. We also spent a lot of time in Plaza de Armas taking group pictures, buying more souvenirs, and interacting with the locals.

Soon it was lunch. We enjoyed our meal together, then rode the bus up a hill where we participated in Pago a La Tierra ceremony which was led by a local shaman. We hiked down through the woods and came across this cute road called Siete Borreguitos (7 little lambs). Some students discovered a little ice cream shop, and decided to spend their soles on a scoop. Along the walk back, the group ran into some nice ladies with llamas. We all huddled around to pet them and take some pictures.

After we got back to our home base, we had chow circle. This is where the whole group gets together to reconnect, go over the day, and learn about the events for the next day. When dinner was over we participated in a group activity focusing on technology and how it affects our life. Lastly, we all got ready for bed and decided to talk out on the porch until lights out.

It was a great day today, and everyone is so excited for all of the adventures that will come tomorrow.

Adios!!

Written by: Toni, and Rebeca

BLOG POST FOR JULY 4

Today at GLA, we woke up at 6:45 and ate breakfast. After breakfast we went on the reality tour and we explored the various aspects of Cusco and how some people live in poverty and some people live more like we do in the US. Mateo and Nella from MEDLIFE gave us insight on how different various areas of Cusco are. Then we got the opportunity to visit one of the local schools and we played soccer with some of the students.

After, we were educated on how the students made it through covid and how the teachers did not have the proper equipment to educate the students. Because many people did not have access to a computer or internet, the country broadcasted lessons for students of all ages by T.V. and radio. Students as young at 2nd grade had to take radios to higher points in the mountains just to learn.

After that, we got to see one of the level 1 clinics and learned how that level does not have to technology or supplies that clinics in Lima and Cusco would. We learned that it was very hard to get access to a good clinic compared to how it would be for us living in the US. Then we got the opportunity to see a beautiful view of the sacred valley where we ate lunch. Then we got to the the entire view of Cusco at the statue of Christ the redeemer. One of the MEDLIFE staff members gave us an orientation about how the pop up clinics will work and what to expect for our next couple of week participating in them. Then we had dinner and went to bed, we are very excited for our service work in the clinic tomorrow.

Chloe and Abishek

BLOG POST FOR JULY 6

Hola!

Today we had an amazing time in Tupay, a community located a few hours (by bus) outside of Cusco. Upon reaching our destination, we all helped to set up the mobile clinic inside of a local school.

We were able to have the opportunity to learn how medication is prescribed, how cavities are filled, how pharmacies are organized, and much more! Helping the dentist and doctors was a fantastic experience.

At the education and toothbrushing stations, we were able to meet a lot of people and practice our Spanish! The kids were very enthusiastic learning about hygiene and how to brush their teeth. While waiting for parents to finish up inside the clinic, some of the medical gloves were blown up into balloons – making for some great “don’t let the balloon touch the ground” games! Additionally, there was a fun game of soccer going on.

After packing up the clinic and returning to the hotel, we had some dancers come to teach us about Peruvian dancing and culture. We did a total of four dances: one from along the coast, one from in the mountains, one from the jungle, and lastly some salsa!

We all had a fantastic dinner together at the hotel. It was an awesome day, and we’re all very happy to be able to learn more about Peru and the culture!

¡Ciao!

Grace and Micah

BLOG POST FOR JULY 8

¡Buenas Días!

Today was so much fun. We woke up this morning a little bit later than usual, and left our hotel around 9am. Our first stop was the Maras Salt mines which have been around since 700 BCE. It is crazy to think of people building something like it that long ago, and it is still here for us to see and still producing salt!

Afterwards,we went to Andean Colors which is a weaving co-op that was started by a single mother effected by domestic violence. They employ other single mothers now, and help sell their products. They made us lunch here and we got to try CUY or guinea pig!! It was a little weird, but some of us really enjoyed it. Either way we are glad we tried it. Marco from Andean colors told us about the significance of serving cuy. Peruvian people eat it for special events like birthdays or other celebrations. Usually the most respected person is given the head!

After we ate some people showed us how to make bracelets, dye alpaca wool, and weave ponchos and other items. They had alpacas (a really cute baby) and a guinea pig farm with hundreds of them!!

Next we drove to Ollantaytambo to have some pizza and catch our bus to Aguas Calientes which is where we will stay before going to Machu Picchu tomorrow!! We can’t wait.

Missing you!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 9

Machu Picchu day

Today we had a very early start at 5 am, we woke up bright and early so that we could catch the bus up to machu pichu, we were staying in the town of aguas calientes becuase it is closest to machu pichu, we then got on a bus and winded our way up the mountain. As we reached the top, the majestic ruins of Machu Picchu unfolded before us.

We then took a guided tour through Machu Picchu, our guide, an expert, brought the ancient city to life with fascinating stories about its history and culture. We learned about the different designs of the houses, the rock formations, and many other interesting facts that we would have never known.

After a morning exploring the ruins, we took the bus back to Aguas Calientes for a delicious lunch at a local restaurant. We enjoyed a nice reminder of home with some burgers and fries. Refreshed and energized, we boarded the train back to Cusco, a scenic journey that offered a different perspective of the Andes Mountains. The two-hour train ride was a relaxing way to look back on the day’s adventures. Back in Cusco, we hopped on a bus to our hotel, exhausted from the days adventure we all crashed and went to sleep.

-Harris

BLOG POST FOR JULY 11

Today we got to wake up a little later than usual, since today was our round table day with med life.

In the morning we had a cooking class. We made the traditional meal of Peru – Lomo Saltado and Peruvian doughnuts called piccarones. The food was really good, and we got to learn how to make it at a local culinary school.

Then we went to a round table event with Medlife

During the Round Table, we took a 1 hour bus ride to the town of Pisac, where we got to meet people who were part of med life’s follow-up program, which is a program provided my Med Life that allows people to get the medical help they need over extended periods of time, regardless of their ability to pay.

During the round table, we met with patients in the follow-up program, along with Med Life staff who explained to us how they were helping these people.

In my opinion, this was the most impactful day of the trip so far, and it showed us how much we were actually helping people in the mobile clinics.

Shylah

BLOG POST FOR JULY 12

Today was an unforgettable experience! We went on a fun journey that combined white water rafting with the views of Mountains.

The cold weather made it necessary to wear wetsuites. The mountains surrounding us were breathingtaking. After going through the river, we were treated to a sauna, a perfect way to warm up. A delicious warm lunch followed, preparing us for ziplining. Floating above the river we had just rafted down was a great experience, offering a unique perspective of the stunning landscape.

Back at the hotel we finished tne day watching “A Dog’s Purpose” and enjoying some friendly card games. Today was such a great experience.

Ann Marie and Tori

June 7, 2024 by Ashley Welter

Peru: Foundations of Global Health (June 15 – June 28, 2024)

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

TIME CAPSULE LETTER

Written by David & the Peru Team

Hi, how are you?
Hola, como estás?
Allinllachu, imanalla?

After that, our first clinic day! Going to the communities and having an eye-opening experience feeling how all the work became very “real” at that moment, with a bit of confusion here and there all of you started to get the hang of clinic work and how a mobile clinic develops in so many different places and situations. Whether you were first at the Hygiene station, Toothbrush, Education, Triage, Doctor, Dental or Pharmacy you might recall the first impression and impact we had in communities and with ourselves. Going to communities and going back to Cusco it always felt like every time we were different people, getting to HB tired but with the achievement of have been able to help.

Then going back to Cusco for our last clinic day filled with excitement and lots of feelings, the (extremely long) cooking class and round table as a close for clinics; the visit to the Qorikancha museum, remember the last couple of days with closing activities, cafés, shopping for souvenirs and packing with a bittersweet feeling? Knowing that even though we were all excited about going back to our homes we will be also missing our time in Cusco, the people, our walks through the city and the fireworks at night during “Inty raymy”.

Kindly,

David Flor
Mateo Coello
Mary Malone

Until we see each other again, Thanks!
Hasta que nos volvamos a ver, Gracias!
Yapamanta Tupananchikama, Yupaychany!

Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!

Here are a few things to know and expect:

Blog posts are written by onsite program staff and/or students and sent to our Headquarters team who will post the blog on this page.
We typically receive 2-3 blog updates per week from each program, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post every day – that’s totally normal.
Blog updates received late in the evening or overnight will be posted the following day.
Blog updates received on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
Due to many factors such as internet accessibility, program staff aren’t always able to send photos, so some blog posts may contain text only.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.

For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

P.S. Are you interested in supporting the Global Leadership Adventures International Foundation? We invite you to learn more about GLAIF and consider donating here.

Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 15

Hello!
Hola!
Allilanchu!

GLA families; from the mystical, beautiful, ancient and magic city of Cuzco,

After long hours traveling from many places to get here the Andes have welcomed our students with a bright sun and a chilly wind. Some of them arrived very early in the morning, some around noon and others in the afternoon; since we had sometime before lunch we decided to have a quick tour around the city center so they can have their first fell from Cuzco, their people and magnificent architecture, taking a few pictures here and there in iconic places. Also, being able to see a dog parade from pets dressed up in native clothes (so cute!) afterwards we went back to “Casa Campesina” our home base for lunch; our first lunch together was filled with good taste from our amazing cooking staff that had prepared one of the signature dishes in Perú, the “Lomo Saltado” and for our vegetarian fellows “Tofu Saltado”.

We played a few name-games during lunch to get to know each other before picking up the rest of the students that hadn’t arrived yet; meanwhile students had some time to rest, get settled, play games and get to know one another and overcome the first “awkwardness”, after a couple of hours during health checks they were playing card games, chatting and laughing around. Their faces light up when they see the mountains, the amazing blue sky and this magnificent schedule packed with service work and wonderful activities, Machu Pichu being the “cherry on top”.

We’ll keep you posted during our adventures and experiences!

See you soon!
Hasta pronto!
Tupananchikkama!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 16

Hello all!

We started our day off with a much needed extra hour to sleep in before heading off to breakfast at 8:00 am. After we finished eating, we met for our program orientation to cover everything from GLA history to program expectations. We also enjoyed learning about each of our mentors and their path to GLA themselves. After acting out and guessing the prohibited behaviors for the program, we wrapped up orientation and took a quick break before heading off to lunch, where we enjoyed some shrimp rice, chicken-wrapped ham and cheese bites, strawberries, and some juice among other items.

-Maddie Smith (Leader of the day)

After lunch the group went on a van ride to a hike led by a local shaman. While we hiked, the shaman talked about life lessons and how to maintain equilibrium in the modern technological world. After walking for about 30 minutes in effort to connect with nature, we came to a clearing where there was a cave filled with past offerings for Pachamama or Mother Earth in English. He then laid down a colorful mat and we began the offering. It was a ceremony that is popular in Incan culture called Pago a La Tierra or payment to the land in English. It consisted of him blessing us, a long prayer with bells to set an intention of positivity for our trip. After, taught us about the use of coca leaves for tea and chewing to help with altitude sickness and other ailments. They are very special to the people here. We then took a couple pictures because the sunset and the view of the city was beautiful and hiked back down. We walked back on a colorful street called siete borreguitos, which means seven little lambs. It was a really cool experience that you can’t get anywhere else and it was a really mindful and respectful way to start the trip.

-Cooper Ford (Leader of the day)

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 17

Hola!

Today we woke up bright and early to explore the outskirts of Cusco through a reality tour. Our helpful guide Natalie, a leader with MEDLIFE, took her time explaining to us the challenges people living in Cusco face in their everyday lives and how MEDLIFE has helped to support communities. MEDLIFE stands for Medicine, Education, and Development for Low Income Families Everywhere. This eye opening experience taught us all the roles MEDLIFE plays in order to help people in Cusco live a more good and sustainable quality of life. Due to the mountains and altitude, healthcare, agriculture and is very difficult. Anemia has impacted many communities especially outside the main city of Cusco creating a lasting effect on learning development in children. Education, is just one area MEDLIFE is working to expand. As a part of the development aspect, MEDLIFE has built greenhouses for many varieties of vegetables and fruits to be grown year around so that people can have a well-balanced diet ultimately preventing anemia and allowing a better education. Lastly, medicine is a key focus that development and education is rooted in. Many locals living in areas outside the major city of Cusco do not have room for patients or access to medical technologies that we may have. In the afternoon, we learned more about what MEDLIFE provides for healthcare and what our first day of clinics will look like.

-Olivia

Next we had a lunch over a view of the mountains before going to see the Cristo Blanco statue that sits at the top of Cusco, with a view of the whole city. It was amazing to see the smaller communities outside of Cusco in the mountains and learn about the different health care access. During this we learned more about what Medlife is all about and its impact in North America, South America, and Africa. We then learned about the Mobile Clinics and the health protocols, different stations, and the roles for us volunteers. We then wrapped the day up with a reflection and list of goals for our trip. Tomorrow we begin our service work in a small community in the mountains and we are all so excited.

-Sebastian

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 18

Hola famílias!

Today was day four! We started our day at 7 o’clock for breakfast. We then headed to the bus to meet our clinic doctors and staff. It took us two hours and a very windy road through the mountains to get to our first clinic location.

Today was a very important because we built our foundation and knowledge of what the day should look like. With the help from clinic staff, we set up all of the stations with medical supplies to prepare for the patients. We split into small groups to take on the six different stations; hygiene, triage, education, doctor, dentist, and pharmacy.

In the small town Q’enqo, we met sick children, mothers, fathers, and grandparents. We shadowed doctors who diagnosed and prescribed medication to help alleviate pain. Most patient struggled with lower back pain, joint pain, and acid reflex from hard manual labor. In the dentist clinic, most patients had broken or rotting teeth that needed to be extracted. However, most declined treatment because they were afraid of the pain. We helped MedLife staff provide treatment that these families wouldn’t otherwise receive.

While the parents were inside with clinic staff, the children were learning about oral hygiene, and how to wash their hands. At the end of the session, they all received toothbrushes and interacted with volunteers. Plus, they all got stickers which they were very excited about!

In the evening, we visited the San Pedro market for some souvenir shopping. To finish the day we had dinner at 6:30, chow circle, and shared an impactful moment from the day. We all agreed that today was full of eye-opening experiences and we feel better prepared for tomorrow’s clinic.

Kayakaman (see you soon in Quechua!),

Kinsey and Lucia

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 19

Hola from Peru! Today was our second clinic day where we visited the village of Sihua and got to work at different stations than yesterday. Today, the clinic took place at a school so we set out to meet many more kids than yesterday. They were so excited to see us and receive help. We loved to get to know them and play with them throughout the day. The community was so grateful four our services at the end of the clinic they boiled potatoes as a thank you gift. It was so amazing to see the impact we had on them in just one short visit.

After the clinic we headed back to home base and got to participate in a dance class which consisted of five different types of dance styles: Coastal, Jungle, Anaconda, Andes, and Salsa. We followed dance class with our chow circle where discussed our favorite part of the day and our plans for the following day. After our third clinic day tomorrow, we are making our way to Machu Picchu! Stay tuned!!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 20

Greetings from Peru!

Today we had a packed day, finishing our 3rd successful clinic, learning about different music and instrument’s and a fun night in the town! We started the day off early with breakfast to fuel for our bus ride. Once we arrived to the clinic we got busy setting up and going to our stations. After 2 hours at our stations we had a delicious lunch in the bus and got right back to work. Some of us were helping the pharmacist, shadowing the do to and others helping fill cavities with the dentist! After our 2nd station we made our way back to the home base and started backing for our weekend adventure to the Mara’s salt mines and Macchu piccu!

-Kate

After packing and a little free time we proceeded to do a music workshop where a local musician informed us about different types of interments and their significance. We learned that some instruments are masculine and some are feminine but can be played together to create balance. Then, we proceeded to learn “on the floor“ by Jennifer Lopez and play instruments together! although it wasn’t easy to play the right notes, we successfully created a similar sounding version. After workshop, we ate a delicious dinner and continued packing for our big weekend.

Chow!

-Leigh

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 21

Hello! We started our day off with our usual breakfast at the hotel, then departed to the maras salt mine by bus. we saw beautiful views of the progression of salt being formed. after that, we took the bus to andean colors, where we saw textiles, llamas, alpacas, and even guinea pigs! a few brave souls got to hold some guinea pigs and a baby alpaca! the kind workers also taught us how to make different colors for their yarn. we enjoyed a nice lunch on the farm, eating teadition peruvian foods.

After a delicious lunch that Andean Colors provided for us we were able to interact with the llamas and Alpacas. We also viewed the farming of the (cuy) guinea pigs. Andean colors introduced the process of creating the wool and dying it in many colors. They also taught the group how to make colorful bracelets which was super fun! Later we had dinner in Ollantaytambo and were given the chance to try the local delicacy…cuy. We ended the night with a train ride to Aguas Calientes, a quiet end to the eventful day. We have a 4:45 am wake up for Machu Picchu tomorrow and we couldn’t be more excited!!

-Kira & Mia

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 22

Hello all!

Today, everyone checked off a box on their bucket list as we explored one of the new 7 wonders of the world, Machu Picchu! Waking up at 4 am was definitely worth it to see this magnificent site. With beautiful weather, we had great views of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and pictures that we will cherish forever. Looking at the early Incan architecture, we discovered how they built homes from stone, and practiced their religion, which centered around the sun and other astrological symbols. After Machu Picchu, we headed back down to the local city, Aguas Calientes, where we walked around going to shops and buying snacks until we had lunch. After much walking, we headed back to the train station and had a peaceful train ride back with gorgeous views of the Andes mountains.

-Olivia

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 25

For starters, yesterday we went to a cooking class in Cusco and made traditional foods like ajo de gallina and lomo saltado. It was a really good experience and everybody learned a lot about cooking. We then went to MetLife’s round table and toured a greenhouse. It was really amazing to see the non-medical work med-life does and how much more variety farmers have when growing in a greenhouse vs outside. We also visited a patient’s home that is involed in Medlife’s follow up program to learn about her treatment program. We started out today with a sleep in until 8:30, which was awesome, and then started the bus trip to the rafting and zip lining place.

We stopped at a small market along the way for some snacks and played with a kitten that belonged to an older woman who owned the shop. When we got to the place, we started with a zip line across the river, then went on a 2 hour raft ride, then finished with lunch inside and a sauna to warm up. The rapids went up to class 3 and were a ton of fun. We then went back home in the van, stopping again to see the kitten, and came back to home base where we did a leadership activity and had dinner. We finished the day with candy and watching the emperors new groove. It was a super fun day.

-Cooper

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 26

¡Hola a todos!

We began our day with an extra two hours to sleep in (for which we were all exceptionally grateful) before heading to breakfast at 9:00. After everyone finished eating, we walked over to the San Blas market where we had the opportunity to shop at some beautiful markets. We then headed over to the San Blas plaza, nestled amongst one of Cusco’s artsiest neighborhoods. We played a fun game or fishbowl as part of our leadership activity before having free time to browse local shops and cafes, where many of us enjoyed iced lattes!

After lunch back at the hotel, we visited Qorikancha, an art museum that had once served as an Incan temple of the sun before being converted to a monastery and church of Santo Domingo by the Spanish. After taking in the beautiful art and architecture, we spent some time in the San Pedro market before heading back for dinner. We wrapped up the night with mentor groups and prepared to enjoy our last day in Peru!

-Maddie

June 7, 2024 by Ashley Welter

Hawaii: Maui Island Service Adventure (July 20 – July 29, 2024)

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

TIME CAPSULE LETTER

Written by Austyn & the Hawaii Team

Hello to all of our favorite GLA Hawaii girlies!

It’s hard to believe how much time has passed since you all were waking up in your cabins to the sound of crashing waves, roosters crowing and Abbie squealing at Camp Olowalu. We had such an amazing time with you all swimming in the ocean and waterfalls, playing beach olympics (where you all got impressively competitive!), diving into the bluest ocean water and watching those dolphins give us a show, learning about Hawaiian culture from all of our amazing speakers and service partners like Ua and Auntie Nettie, and crushing it at the Kipuko Olowalu, Habitat and Lahaina Resource Center service projects! You all brought so much enthusiasm, curiosity, compassion and love to each other, the staff and all of the people you interacted with in Maui, and we are so lucky that we had each of you as a part of that magical group of students. We hope you carried all of the perspective you gained from this beautiful island back home with you, and that you are continuing to grow into your full leadership potential each day. Remember-change is made through intentional, small actions and engagement in meaningful relationships over time. I can’t wait to see how you all continue to make real change in your own unique ways. Keep spreading your Aloha and know that I am cheering you on always!

-Austyn/mom

Hey Abbie, Audrey, Cynthia, Elizabeth, Ella , Giselle, and Schuyler

How’s it going gang? I can’t believe how much time has passed since those amazing 10 days in Maui! I hope you have brought all the lessons and memories from the trip into your everyday life. Now that some time has passed I want you to think of the biggest takeaways from our time together. I also hope that you all are working towards the group goal we had set on our final day together in Maui. I wish you the best of luck in all your future adventures and continue to live your values to the fullest!

Aloha,
Charlie

Heyyyyyyyy Lucy, Chloe, Lexie, Genesis, Cayla, Allie and Jay,

It’s hard to believe that six months have passed since our unforgettable days in Maui! Reflecting on that time fills me with immense gratitude for the experiences we shared.

I encourage each of you to take a moment to contemplate the journey you’ve been on since then. What insights have you gained about yourself as a leader? In what ways have you positively impacted your community? As we move forward, what aspirations and goals are you setting for the future?

I hope you are all doing well. I miss each and every one of you deeply and hope the impact of our time together is still alive. May you continue to channel that energy to do good in your communities! May your paths be filled with success, growth, and fulfillment.

With Lots of Love,
Tori 🙂

Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!

Here are a few things to know and expect:

Blog posts are written by onsite program staff and/or students and sent to our Headquarters team who will post the blog on this page.
We typically receive 2-3 blog updates per week from each program, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post every day – that’s totally normal.
Blog updates received late in the evening or overnight will be posted the following day.
Blog updates received on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
Due to many factors such as internet accessibility, program staff aren’t always able to send photos, so some blog posts may contain text only.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.

For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

P.S. Are you interested in supporting the Global Leadership Adventures International Foundation? We invite you to learn more about GLAIF and consider donating here.

Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 21

Today we woke up and got together for breakfast. After a lovely meal from Jake, we piled into the vans and headed to our hiking spot. We got out and had a great hike through the Forrest/jungle and traversed a small river. We eventually ended up in a clearing where we all picked tea plants and watched as Ua made a ley for us with some ferns. After we took pictures with the fern crown, we all lined up to do some hula dancing. We learned a few different moves that we will be using on the luau night! On the way back we stopped by the river and some of us got in and used a special plant to clean off the dirt.

After that, we went to a park and sat down for some caesar raps (thanks jake). Then we got back into the van and blasted some great songs on our way back to the grounds. Once back, some of us took a swim test and then the rest of us joined for a swim afterward. Before we swam though we played a few name games and did our shout outs and announcements. We all showered after swimming and hung out making bracelets and walking the beach until dinner and then we had groups to discuss leadership and what a leader is.

-Schuyler & Lexie

BLOG POST FOR JULY 22

Today we went to do service work & learned so many cool new things! we helped remove invasive plants to make room for new ones we will plant later and learned about a lot of plants. how some water themselves during the night and othered the leaves turn red and that shows the sharks are nervous. we even had a chance to learn how to make leis to take home with us. we also had a guest speaker who talked about how we may think of the time we are in now as bad but people also thought that during their time and how we grow over time. we needed the day with a awesome activity talking about how important the land is to the natives.

-Lucy & Cynthia

BLOG POST FOR JULY 23

Written by: Giselle and Jay

Today was a full day! We started off with breakfast of 7am and then headed off on The Road to Hana. Our tour guides Kea and Gus/Gustavo, drove us to Hana, making stops at cool places along the way. During our first stop, we did a bit of sight seeing where we saw the ocean waves crashing into rocks and many sea turtles we initially thought were rocks! Some of us even got an up-close look at a sea turtle on his own sunbathing!

Our second stop was Auntie Sandy’s for some fresh banana bread straight from the banana plantations. Everyone got to get a taste and most everyone went back for seconds, thirds, and even fourths, it was so good! There were more crashing to see as we ate our banana bread at rest stop. There were also a few local vendors.
Our third stop was a bit of a surprise stop at a small local jewelry shop. Everyone checked out the jewelry and many of us got rings, bracelets, and necklaces.

We continued on to find a waterfall which was our fourth stop. It was freezing! It also started to rain and the rain was freezing as well. We got a chance to swim behind and around the crashing water. The cold was honestly refreshing.
We got back into our vans with wet clothes and continued on to our next stop, the Black Sand Beach. The name was a little misleading as the beach was black but there was a lot more rock/stone than sand. This one was the group’s favorite stop! The waves were huge and the water was so salty.

After the beach we headed back to the vans and stopped at a chocolate farm.
We tired some handmade fresh dark chocolate and saw a fat pig named Chanel. And got to give her some snacks before it started to rain. After this we started to head home on our long car ride and we went through the 356 turns on the road of Hana. Some also napped on the long ride home.

After this adventure we showered and had some Chinese food for dinner and ended the night with some trivia on the things we learned today.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 24

Starting off the day, we had pancakes, eggs, fruit, bacon and yogurt for breakfast. Shortly after, we went on a drive to a Habitat for Humanity house to prep for painting by filling in holes and putting in the flooring. The house was to be given to a native family of five who needed the extra help affording a place to live. We then ate lunch at the scene and chatted about our day. At 3:00 we left to go back to camp where we showered off a hard day of work and got ready to relax. Shortly after we reflected on our day in a “chow circle” and ate a dinner of steak, mashed potatoes, asparagus, salad, and bread rolls. To end the day we played trust games with an engraved message surrounding healthy communication skills.

-Cayla & Abbie

BLOG POST FOR JULY 25

This morning we woke up at 6:30 and went to breakfast at 6:45. We had acai bowls with granola bananas, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, and honey. We left to go onto the bus at 7:30 to do service across the street where we picked weeds and planted seeds. We ate lunch at the creek where some of us went swimming! We then stopped at the convenience store and bought snacks for our movie night later tonight. We stopped at our home base to pack for our hiking trip which was the Hoapili trail. It was 5 miles roundtrip, we saw the ocean views and lava rocks. We then went back to home base where we ate hamburgers, hot dogs and Mac and cheese for dinner. We ended our night by watching Moana on the big screen.

-Allie & Audrey

BLOG POST FOR JULY 26

This morning we got up and went to the Ritz Carlton and watched a documentary on Hawaiian history concerning colonization and the annexation of Hawaii. We learned about the continuing decline of “pure Hawaiians”, how natives are forced into poverty, and the integration of western culture with the spirituality of the Native Hawaiians.

After the documentary, we were allowed to ask questions to Uncle, the supervisor and showrunner of the documentary. We learned that most pure Hawaiians now come from Ni’ihau, a private residential island, and that by 2044 it’s predicted that no pure Hawaiians will exist.

After our education exploration with the ritz Carlton, we retired back to our campsite and indulged in our cook Jake’s delicious lunch which included salad, chips, and barbecue (thanks Jake!).

Then, we set off for the Lahaina Recovery Center, where Aunty Nettie orientated us on what we were doing which involved moving boxes, labeling, setting up showrooms, etc. These items were donated to help families that lost everything in the Lahaina fire last year.

We helped those like Uncle Jojo move toiletries, chandeliers, extension cords and more during our time with the recovery center, which we participated in for the next few hours.

Afterwards, we enjoyed a pizza night, then to close the night off we met with our mentor groups to discuss the different leaders and organizations we’d done service work with, their different leadership styles, whose were most effective, what we learned, and our overall thoughts of the experience up to this point. Then, we called it a night, and everyone’s excited to go snorkeling with each other tomorrow!

-Elizabeth and Chloe

BLOG POST FOR JULY 27

We started off the day with getting ready to go on the catamaran which we had breakfast on. When we got to our snorkeling destination they taught us how to put it on and the signals when we’re out on the water. As we sailed through the ocean we stopped somewhere to snorkel. We swam over a sunken pier and discovered a multitude of sea turtles. Everyone hopped back on the boat for some sun bathing at the front and sightseeing. Soon enough we stopped again to jump into the Pacific Ocean. We were able to open our eyes under water and see 150 feet of nothingness underneath! As we were sailing back, a pod of dolphins was swimming right next to us. After many videos and photos were taken, we finally returned to home base.

The next activity was beach olympics! Three teams were made and the fun began! Competitiveness ran high as we played many fun games, one of which included building something to represent what takeaways we have from the service we did.

Lastly, we went to the luau! They had all included four course meal and any drink on the menu, my favorite was the pulled pork. Our waiter Uncle Tim gave us surprise drinks if we asked. As we ate they had live music and dance. The dances were recreated stories of Hawaii, like the beginning of agriculture and the fire goddess. Some dances honored the past kings and queens. We also had a moment of silence for everyone who lost everything from the fire. They’re using the money from the luau to donate towards helping to build back what was lost from the fires. At the end we had a farewell dance which they hoped we come again.

Ella and Genesis 😘

June 7, 2024 by Ashley Welter

Hawaii: Maui Island Service Adventure (July 8 – July 17, 2024)

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

TIME CAPSULE LETTER

Written by Austyn & the Hawaii Team

Hello to all of our wonderful GLA Hawaii students!

It’s hard to believe how much time has passed since you all were waking up in your cabins to the sound of crashing waves and roosters crowing at Camp Olowalu. We had such an amazing time with you all swimming in the ocean and waterfalls, playing beach olympics (where the boys were surprisingly good at limbo!), learning about Hawaiian culture from our amazing speakers Abner and Rodney, and doing service work with Kipuko Olowalu and Backpacks for Hope. You all showed a ton of growth over those 10 days, and we hope you are continuing to grow into your full leadership potential back at home. Remember-change is made through intentional, small actions and engagement in meaningful relationships over time. I can’t wait to see how you all continue to make real change in your own unique ways. Cheering you on always!
-Austyn

Emily:

Em&m’s!!!!!

Beach Olympics winners!

It was an immense joy working with all of you on our session months ago (…? Wild it’s been so long). As promised, here is the email reminder of our group-chosen one meaningful goal. How’ve you done so far?! It’s ok if you forgot, life gets in the way. Let this be the reminder. I’m hoping all of you enjoyed the remainders of your summer breaks before school, some of you had some fun sounding trips planned. As important as a mindset geared for community service is, so is having fun. Because like I always say, you have to take care of yourself before taking care of others. I still fully believe in each of you to take on a leadership position in whichever way it feels right to you, because this world needs many types of leaders, and there is space for each of us. Hoping you’ve been well, and the warmest wishes from Em

Charlie:
Nate, Sydney, Julia, Maya, Julie, Willow and Liam

Hello y’all how’s it going? Oh boy how has the time flown since those magical weeks in Maui. I hope all is well on your end and the school year is going great! I just wanted to reach out to see how you are doing as leaders in your community. Hopefully we were able to strengthen those skills during our 10 days together. Just remember in my heart 4 x 4 will always equal 8.

Stay awesome
Charlie

Tori:
Hey Liv, Fallynn, Maeghan, Cat, John, Hopper, Caden, and Eddie!

It’s hard to believe that six months have passed since our unforgettable days in Maui! As I reflect on that time, I’m filled with gratitude for the experiences we shared and the bonds we forged.

I want to encourage each of you to take a moment to contemplate the journey you’ve been on since then. What insights have you gained about yourself as a leader? In what ways have you made a positive impact on your community? As we move forward, what aspirations and goals are you setting for the next six months?

Let’s continue to live our values with integrity, embrace courage in the face of challenges, foster meaningful connections, and take purposeful actions.

With love,
Tori

OMG GOALS SESSION 1:

Emily’s mentor group:

Charlie’s Mentor group:

Tori’s mentor group:

Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!

Here are a few things to know and expect:

Blog posts are written by onsite program staff and/or students and sent to our Headquarters team who will post the blog on this page.
We typically receive 2-3 blog posts per week from each program, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post every day – that’s totally normal.
Blog updates received on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
Due to many factors such as internet accessibility, program staff aren’t always able to send photos, so some blog posts may contain text only.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.

For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

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Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 8

Hello!

Missing two students from the group photo due to late arrivals and only got photos of a smaller group of students at an overlook (it was a van coming from airport back to HB) but it’s a good picture so I included it! We will take another group photo with everyone in it tomorrow after our final two arrivals.

Thanks!

-Austyn

BLOG POST FOR JULY 9

Awakening to the beautiful sound of waves crashing and roosters singing, our GLA students began their day by consuming a delicious meal. The meal consisted of fresh pineapple, watermelon, eggs, Spam, and of course coffee. We then embarked of a journey to the Iao Valley, where we learned about the culture of Hawaii through gathering tea leaves to be processed and used to make leis and then leaving physical offerings to the ancestors of the land we were on. Following this learning, we continued our journey to a part of the river where some incredibly courageous students chose to swim in the cold water. We then had a fulfilling lunch with a stunning view. We returned to base camp to have a riveting discussion about the ethics of volenturism, benefits of disconnecting from our phones, and ways to be present with each other this week. We then swam in the beautiful blue waves for over an hour. After swimming,we circled up to discuss the day. A delicous dinner folllowed this. We had lasagna. After some time of rest, we went into groups for more activities and then turned in for the night.

Written by Liam & Hoppe

BLOG POST FOR JULY 10

This morning, we participated in service with our partner Kipuko Olowalu where we got rid of invasive weeds and planted native plants. We learned how to keep balance between us and nature. Our volunteer leader taught us more about Hawaiian culture and how to connect with nature. We learned more about Hawaiian land rights history from our volunteer partner and our guest speaker Abner. We gained a lot of insight on modern day issues such as conservation, native rights and development of Hawaiian land. Many of us swam in the ocean and saw two seals.

-Marshall, Julia, Maeghan

BLOG POST FOR JULY 11

Today was our first big excursion! For breakfast we had some yummy smoothies and then we left to drive the Road to Hana. We went down a super windy road and some of us definitely had to overcome car sickness. We stopped at a few sites along the way including some lookouts, a banana bread bakery with the best banana bread we have ever had, and a waterfall where we got to swim. The water was really cold but we got in anyway! After enjoying the refreshing water we continued up to the beach and had lunch there. After lunch we swam at the black sand beach and explored around the area. We then had a windy road back to home base where we had pizza and other treats for dinner! Lastly we ended the night with some Hawaii themed Jeopardy!

– Olivia, Maya, and Eddie

BLOG POST FOR JULY 12

Hey GLA fans!!! Today was a great Friday full with adventure and connecting time! We first started the day with watching an Informational National Geographic short film about the history of Hawaii and its diminishing population of pure Hawaiians over the years. We later than devoured a scrumptious lunch of kebabs made by our talented chefs. Afterwards we headed our way over to our service of the day and helped with removing the invasive plant species of Maui and learned about its ingenious and endemic plants. At night we indulged in a Asian cuisine dinner and put away a whopping 100 spring rolls. Finally we finished the day stargazing and having mindful and deep conversation with our councilors. See yall tomorrow GLA mega fans and stay tuned!!!

-Chloe, Nate, Fallyn

BLOG POST FOR JULY 13

We had a really early start to the day. We were on the road at 6:15 in the morning, heading to backpacks of hope where we gave backpacks, food, and water to people in need. After we were no longer needed we headed to the beach to pick up trash. We spent the rest of the afternoon sitting in the sand and swimming in the ocean. Once we were done we had the absolute privilege of being invited to the Epic Swim event where we got to speak to the people swimming around the island of Maui to bring awareness to the health of the ocean, and we watched a documentary about Duke Paoa Kahanamoku “the father of surfing”. All together we had a very rewarding day and we all went to bed feeling accomplished.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 14

With a slightly late start to the morning, we enjoyed another delicious breakfast made by our chefs, Jake and Nick. Unfortunately, the Haleakala volcano we were supposed to explore was closed due to a fire which caused us to reschedule our day. Our first activity was a shopping trip to Paia Town, Paia meaning noisy in Hawaiian. After shopping we ate lunch at the beach and headed over to our afternoon activity. We took a shoreline hike on the Hoapili trail and headed back to home base. For dinner tonight we had short ribs, mashed potatoes and green beans with regular salad. We concluded our night with mentor groups. WE ARE ALL EXCITED TO SURF IN THE WATER TOMORROW!!!

-Shea and Caden

BLOG POST FOR JULY 15

Today we took surfing lessons at the guardrails beach. The water was very clear and the people were very welcoming. Some of us even saw a sea turtle while surfing! Then we went back to homebase and some people got shaved ice and others went to the general store. After that we played the beach Olympics which was 3 groups and we competed in different challenges. Throughout the Olympics there was a mixture of being flexible and being blindfolded for majority of the challenges. We then had hotdogs and hamburgers for dinner and after that had smores.

John, Julie, and Morgan