Outside of Urubamba there is the dusty “slum” of Cotiwincho. It is so awful that it is referred to by locals as “Afghanistan”. However, even in this place there is a wonderful story. For 14 years at Mosoq Runa project Ada has been caring for children that were given up by abusive and/or absent parents. Ada came over to Peru from Italy and fell in love with “Afghanistan”. She set up her sanctuary here after a family asked her to care for their kids because they could not do it. It is one of the most loving homes I have ever seen and the children here are happy and loved. I found out today that 4 of the kids are now in university. Not bad at all considering where they came from! As I walked from the school back to her home I commented to Ada on the decrepit buildings and garbage strewn streets and she said “there is no where else I’d rather live”.
Alan Harman
