Page 12 - Mountain Lifestyle Fall/Winter 2021

By Robyn Hanson
I am am thankful to share two amazing communities Eagle County and Peru When you you know know you you know know – Robyn Hanson
There is is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a cliche cliche saying that that when when you you know know you you know Sometimes those cliches hold truth be- cause that is exactly how I I felt when I I took my first trip to Peru in 2006 Full of expectations
around volunteering new foods and taking in in in the sites I set eyes on
the the children in the the local orphanage and knew my life would never be the same My husband my my home and and my my career as a a a a a a teacher in the the valley awaited my return But I was not the the same Communicating my excitement passion and need to return to to Peru my husband listened and and understood This was something we would do together We began the work to sell our our home quit our our jobs and adventured to a a a a a a year of volunteering in in that Peruvian orphanage Everyone told us “You’ll come home with a child ” Instead we returned with not one child but a a sibling group of five children Karina Araceli Dany Yen and Zuleica stole our hearts and we couldn’t wait to to be a a a a a family Coming back to Eagle County made sense We wanted to to continue to to grow in in a a a a place where we had witnessed community in action But the story isn’t over After settling in in as a a a new family I couldn’t shake the the thought “What happens to all of the the children who don’t get adopted?” I looked into the eyes of my beautiful children and and saw their potential and and so many dreams awaiting them Yet there were so many youths left in Peru who would never have a a a a a family to take care of them They had no one rooting for them Eventually they would be on
their own with no support - easy prey for human slavery trafficking and the child mafia I couldn’t let that happen Every youth deserves the chance to to be loved supported and to to have the opportunity to to pursue their dreams I I knew I I had to to do something Even 12 Mountain Lifestyle Magazine
though I I had never run a a a nonprofit I I dove in in and in in 2010 launched the organization Corazon de Esperanza - “Heart of Hope ” Now youth who age out out as as early as as 16 years old can enter our transitional home and have a a a a a a a safe place to live They receive education positive mentoring and the the tools they need to to be able to to face the future with hope Youth are em- powered as they walk the the difficult transition from orphanage care to independent living We surround these young people people with a a team of people people essentially a a a a a family formed through a a a a a strong community a a a a a value I learned here in Eagle County Our goal isn’t just a a a a a short-term solution Our goal is to change outcomes and impact their future