Hola GLA Alumni!
I hope this message finds you all in good spirits. By now, you are all probably back in the swing of school— reconnecting with friends, fighting deadlines, and engaging in your extracurriculars!
From this vantage point, it must be hard to believe that just a few weeks ago you were in the Sacred Valley of Perú, doing public health service work alongside 23 other rad and inspired young adults.
Remember that first day when you arrived in Cusco? Despite initial nerves, high altitude, many flight delays, and an entirely new environment, you all hit the ground running and you never stopped.
Remember our first full day together when you all made k’incus of coca to express our intentions to Pachamama? Yep, by then we knew you all were going to be a really cool group to work with, and boy, did you all exceed our expectations or what!?
We got to have so much fun together— from rafting (and splashing) down the Urubamba river, to bargaining in the Pisac market, to the highs of the Lares trek (14,200 feet), and of course, the grandeur of Machu Picchu!
We also got a lot of work done: Together we restored the Taray clinic to be a beautiful and welcoming building that will serve Taray patients for years to come. Not to mention, the hemoglobin campaign! Between our service at the school in San Salvador and the Pisac clinic, we served 174 people! Our work directly affected the patients we served, and additionally our collected data will go to support long-term research on anemia in the Sacred Valley. As evidenced by our clinic inauguration in Taray on the last day of the program, the fruits of our labor have already begun to be reaped.
Time and again, you all struck us by your energy, engagement and commitment to public health and to making our world a better place. You all are such bright and inspiring young individuals, and we feel honored to have had the opportunity to work with you this summer.
We hope that you all are totally “sending it” in whatever you do, and that you know that you can count on us as your supports and advocates, from near or far.
With big hugs and admiration,
Caitlin, Scott, Brooke and Adrienne
Feeling nostalgic? You can experience that same sense of friendship and adventure abroad again! Check out all our 2019 programs, or enroll now.
