Update May 13, 2020: Good Life Expeditions’ recent partnership with Exodus Travels and PEAK DMC to bring COVID-19 relief to 100 families was recently featured on Adventure Travel News. We’re grateful and proud to be recognized for our collaboration with others in the travel industry as we continue giving back to local communities. Check out this post to learn more or donate now to support our work.
At Good Life Expeditions, we’re deeply passionate about creating transformative travel experiences that give back to the countries where we plan trips. Every traveler with us supports medicine, education, and development for low-income families through our partner non-profit, MEDLIFE. But while the impacts of COVID-19 spread around the world, and travel has paused, we have been working on ways we can best continue to support the local communities – especially those that rely on income from the tourism industry. And we are happy to have found a solution.
Join us to bring COVID-19 relief to vulnerable families
For the coming weeks, we will be co-sponsoring the efforts of MEDLIFE to raise money in support of vulnerable families in Peru and Ecuador that have lost their income due to the nationwide lockdown in the countries. In an effort to slow the spread of the virus, governments are only allowing residents to leave their homes for emergencies or essentials like groceries or bank visits. Borders are closed, and businesses are shut.
MEDLIFE has raised over $10,000 and already provided food for 500+ families with insecurity during these times. We are so proud to be partnered with the organization in this effort, and we know that with the help of travelers and the tourism industry, we can multiply these numbers in no time. Let’s work together to support the families that run the local restaurants, drive the taxis, work at stores, and above all make us feel welcome when we are visitors in their country. It is our chance to show our support and make sure tourism in Peru and Ecuador is still standing when our travelers return.
HOW IT WORKS
MEDLIFE & Good Life Expeditions will be collecting donations for the next few weeks via our fundraising platform Givelively. On this page, you can make a donation, or you can create your own fundraising page on behalf of yourself or your company. Share the link to your page, encourage others to donate, and raise as much money as you can to support vulnerable families in Peru & Ecuador.
Our field team of community organizers and nurses at MEDLIFE has identified families with food, health, or water insecurity during the COVID-19 lockdown. As we fundraise, we will be proactively coordinating the purchase and delivery of food, water, or medical supplies to the communities in need. We will do this in the safest way possible, always complying with government restrictions and public health guidelines.
When deliveries are made, we will provide updates to donors and encourage you to share these updates with your friends, family, or clients so that they can see the impact we are making together.
WHO YOU WILL HELP
Are you ready to donate? Thank you. We want to introduce you to a few of the families that will benefit from your generosity.
ALEXANDER & YANETH FROM CUSCO, PERU
After being orphaned at a young age, Alexander’s sister, Yaneth, became his primary caregiver. The MEDLIFE Cusco team has supported Alexander through two surgeries for his cleft palate and renovated their home! Unfortunately, Alexander and Yaneth have lost their income because of the lockdown. Yaneth was working as a waitress in the touristic Sacred Valley region but due to the mandatory quarantine and the border closures, she no longer has work. This leaves them unable to purchase food during a time when keeping children and adults well-nourished and with a strong immune system has never been more vital!
KIMBERLY FROM TENA, ECUADOR
5-year-old Kimberly has been one of our follow-up patients since 2016. She has a rare case of lymphoma and MEDLIFE’s team of nurses in Ecuador has been helping her access treatment. Kimberly’s mother earns a living by providing laundry services. However, due to the drop in tourism caused by COVID-19, her customers can no longer afford her services. To make matters worse, the price of basic foods like vegetables and grains have increased because of the restrictions on transportation. As a result, Kimberly’s family is struggling to put food on the table. This is a major concern because maintaining a healthy weight is important for Kimberly to be able to receive surgeries that could save her life.
MILAGROS FROM LIMA, PERU
When we first met Milagros at a Mobile Clinic in 2013, she needed urgent medical attention for a serious case of anemia and a chronic heart condition. Over the years, MEDLIFE’s team of nurses has continued to support Milagros through a number of health issues, including a stroke that left half of her body paralyzed. Due to her continuing health challenges, Milagros has been unable to work for many years and relies on financial support from her brother.
You may remember Milagros, as she was one of the many MEDLIFE patients that benefitted from donations from Good Life Expeditions travelers. Your travels helped to purchase furniture for her home that created a safe and clean living space for Milagros. Unfortunately, Milagros has been impacted by the lockdown similar to many other families. Her family and neighbors have lost their incomes or left the community in search of safety. As unemployment and water shortages continue to ravage the community, it seems unlikely that her neighbors and brother will be able to support her throughout the entire period of lockdown and its aftermath.
GIVE BACK NOW SO TOURISM IS AVAILABLE IN THE FUTURE
We understand that COVID-19 has created challenges for everyone around the world. Job loss and health issues are common no matter where you live, and sometimes it seems better to turn away from the news and the current reality. But if you are able, we hope that you consider donating to the families that have welcomed us into their countries for years.
Good Life Expeditions lives and breathes our motto: travel that transforms and gives back. Right now, we can’t create travel that transforms. So instead, let’s work together to shift our efforts into giving back so that when we can travel again it is more transformative than ever.