Cusco Orphanage Playground Inauguration

Through selfless fundraising efforts and a collaboration of resources the Girl’s Orphanage San Judas Chico in Cusco, Peru inaugurated a beautiful new playground on Sunday, September 16th! The PC5 and the North Ogden service expedition groups raised $2,400 for the construction of this new playground.  Through the accomplished coordination of Ascend Alliance, Ascend Travel, and these dedicated service expedition groups that came to Peru last June, the girls at San Judas Chico now have a safe place to relax, exercise, play and be kids in a place they can finally feel at home.
Before the improvements:



There are three orphanages in Cusco that take in boys and girls ages 5 to 17.  These brave young children are either orphaned, have impoverished families that are unable to support their children, or are victims of domestic abuse, social risk, or sexual abuse.  All three Cusco orphanages are directed by Señor Luis Alberto Palma Gonzales, the President of the Sociedad de Beneficiencia Publica del Cusco (a state run organization that serves neglected youth, the mentally challenged, and a retirement community). The Hogar de Niñas San Judas Chico Girls Orphanage where the playground humanitarian project was installed is run by Señora Maruja, and hosts 36 amazing, intelligent, and inspiring young Peruvian girls.
After at the inaugeration:




As an intern with Ascend Adventure Travel, I have had the pleasure of working with these girls in their vegetable garden over the past three weeks, and I have never seen them so happy as the day we first opened their playground!  The ceremony itself was a congregation of children from all three orphanages in Cusco.  When Timothy Marti, the CEO of Ascend Travel and Regional Manager for this project, cut the tape to signify the opening of the new playground nearly 100 children went bolting for its castle, monkey bars, and teeter-totters! Tim and I where both relieved that it was finally inaugurated, yet scared for the children’s lives, hoping our Chief Operator Señor Felipe had made the castle feature strong enough to withstand 50 enthusiastic Peruvian children!  We looked at each other with a slight grin, both thinking “no better way to test it out than this!”  As I savored my delicious, authentic Peruvian lunch with all the children and their mentors, celebrating our new playground, I felt accomplished, gratified, and most importantly I felt like their friend.

A Message from our CEO

The other day at a family barbeque my father asked me how I was enjoying my new leadership role at Ascend Alliance.  It was noisy with children playing their favorite summer games and I was not really sure how to answer him without evoking a deep conversation.  Instantly, flash of images rolled through my mind, recounting a number of exciting events from the past four months.  Almost without restraint, one word flashed to mind and leapt from my lips – ENTHUSIASM.

Enthusiasm is definitely the word to describe how I feel about my short tenure as CEO of Ascend Alliance. The word enthusiasm literally means a strong excitement or feeling; taking its origin from the Greek word enthousiasmos, meaning to be inspired.  As I have embraced my leadership role of this wonderful organization I have truly been inspired; inspired to carry on a powerful legacy and motivated to craft a new and exciting vision for the future.

Since 1982 the founders of Ascend Alliance and their supporters have been changing lives by promoting self reliance across the world. The impact of this organization can hardly be quantified with numbers or described by words.  Let it suffice to say that great things have been accomplished. 

The great Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm”.  I would concur that enthusiasm is the mother of all greatness.  Enthusiasm has been, and will continue to be, a driving force here at Ascend Alliance.  Personally, I have never been so passionate about my life.  I fall asleep every night and wake up every morning thinking about the opportunities that lie ahead. 

Join with the team at Ascend Alliance and let the power of enthusiasm infuse passion in your lives and purpose in your actions!