A new Reality TV series, shot entirely in HDTV. The show’s first season follows a group of ordinary volunteers who travel to an orphanage in Cusco, Peru to donate their time, talents, and considerable energy to improve the lives of over 90 deaf and mute children. A raft of psychological and emotional challenges emerges – unscripted – along the way. This is a socially conscious series about international volunteering that represents a positive direction for reality programming.This is a reality series. Not a “reality” series with contestants and survivors and contrived situations, targeted to the lowest common denominator. This is the real thing – a new kind of reality TV that is engaging, thought-provoking, and enlightening.
Episode #101 Eight volunteers arrive in Cusco, Peru to spend 6 weeks working in an orphanage for deaf mute children and in the surrounding community. Meet 8 volunteers who’ve traveled to Cusco, Peru seeking to put meaning back into their lives by helping others in need. Follow the volunteers as they divide up assignments and get ready to meet the children.
Episode #102 Reality sets in for the Volunteers as they learn the routine of working at the orphanage and get their first look at the problems ahead. Robyn and Jamie handle early morning baby duty and report back to the others on the problems they find. The group begins surveying needs and planning the course of action for completing projects over the next 6 weeks. Cliff and Sarah have their first meeting to discuss “Lorena Stoves” a project that the volunteers will work on in a neighboring community.
Episode #103 Projects continue at the orphanage while three volunteers begin an arduous 5-day hike to Machu Picchu. Jimbo and Bob begin building a fence and gate around the trash when it is learned that the children are eating scraps from the garbage. Cliff, Jamie and Robyn set off on a 5-day hike to Machu Picchu. Those left behind go on a cultural excursion to the local Bread Festival.
Episode #104 Robyn, Jamie and Cliff tour Machu Picchu as the group left in Cusco completes their first big project. Robyn, Jamie and Cliff explore the beauty, and learn the history, of Machu Picchu. Upon their return to Cusco, frustration begins to mount as not all the volunteers can agree on how projects should be done.
Episode #105 Tension builds between volunteers and the coordinators leading Ana to question if the group has lost their focus. A lack of communication and too much partying causes tempers to reach a boiling point, so the volunteers vow to re-dedicate themselves to their mission of helping the children. This week’s project is to teach health and hygiene to the children. An argument leads to the volunteers being tossed out of their hotel. Unable to come together as a group, Ana asks Cliff to leave the program.
Episode #106 The volunteers finally pull together as a group working on the “Lorena Stoves”, while Cliff says goodbye to the children. Bob, Robyn and Elaine take four children on their first visit to an internet cafe. Meanwhile Patsy, Jimbo and Sofia work on improving the playground. Bob’s friend Terry joins the group and provides much needed help building the “Lorena Stoves”. Cliff reflects on his trip and treats the children to ice cream as he says goodbye.
Episode #107 A surprise trip to Machu Picchu and finishing the “Lorena Stoves” keeps the volunteers’ schedules full and spirits high. Volunteers who didn’t hike to Machu Picchu are given a surprise trip there via the train. Bob’s wife makes an unexpected visit. Patsy introduces the children to a deaf weaver who teaches them how to weave. Sarah and Robyn discover that a few of the children who are thought to be deaf would be able to hear if they had hearing aids. The volunteers finish the “Lorena Stoves” and the community holds a celebration in their honor.
Episode #108 As projects are quickly being completed, the volunteers begin to realize how difficult it will be to say goodbye. Bob and Robyn build wheelchairs, with polishing help from the children. Afterwards they take the children with them to another orphanage to present the wheelchairs to needy families. Bob and Jo visit a cemetery on the Day of the Dead. Jimbo and Patsy finish painting a mural in the baby room, while Jamie and Elaine make plans for a safe place for the toddlers to play. As the group reflects on their projects finishing up, they know they must soon say goodbye to the children.
Episode #109 The volunteers prepare to say goodbye to the children, but before they go, they plan one big Birthday celebration for all the children. Realizing that many of the children have never celebrated their birthday, the volunteers plan a huge party, complete with clowns and a pony. The volunteers reflect on their time at the orphanage and how the experience has changed their lives.
Details
LENGTH: 9 x 60 Minutes
FORMAT: Series
CAMERA: HDTV
INTERNATIONAL TRACK: Yes
TEXTLESS: Yes
CLOSED CAPTIONS: No
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
PRODUCTION YEAR: 2005
RELEASE YEAR: 2005
SUPPLIER: Concrete Pictures
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
RIGHTS TERRITORY: Worldwide exclusive of USA/Canada
Related Titles:
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Is the Journey’s of the Heart: Peru series available on DVD?
It has never been released on DVD. Concrete Pictures, the producer, doesn’t seem to be active anymore. Last address we have for them is in Narberth, PA.