Two Separate Acts of Kindness Demonstrate the Best of Humanity in Peru · Global Voices
Gabriela García Calderón Orbe

Wallet. Image on Flickr by user smalljude (CC BY-NC 2.0).
A boy's honesty and a neighborhood's gratitude are two pieces of good news freshening up summer in Lima, where things are heating up not only because of the weather phenomenon El Niño, but also because of the country's ongoing presidential campaign.
On January 14, a Facebook user shared what happened at Cerro Azul beach, located 120 kilometers south of the Peruvian capital:
[…] yendo hacia la playa se me cayó la billetera, con efectivo documentos y tarjetas.
Yo no tenía ni idea que se me había caído hasta que Brando llegó corriendo a decirme: “toma se te cayó”.
Él es Brando uno de los tantos niños que cuida carros en la playa de Cerro Azul.
- Les quiero pedir un favor enorme, cada vez que vengan búsquenlo para que sea el el que les cuide el carro, que sepa que cuando uno obra bien, la vida te gratifica.
Y si está en sus posibilidades, un almuercito estoy seguro que le caería muy bien! Jaja
Gracias Brando, porque sin saberlo no solo me devolvías una billetera…me devolvías la ilusión!!!
[…] going to the beach, I dropped my wallet full of cash, documents and [credit] cards.
I hadn't the slightest idea that my wallet had dropped until Brando came running and told me, “Here, you dropped this”.
Brando is one of many children that take care of cars at Cerro Azul beach.
- I want to ask you a huge favor, every time you come, look for him, so he might be the one who takes care of your car, so he may know that when you do good deeds, life rewards you.
And if you can afford it, I'm sure he'd love a lunch! Haha
Thanks, Brando, because without knowing you not only returned my wallet to me… you returned my hope!!!
The story of Brando's good deed made its way to other websites, which praised his honesty and urged other people to share the tale to “promote good values”.
¡Ejemplo! Niño peruano que cuida carros es tendencia en redes por su noble gesto https://t.co/xM9aVz7XGG pic.twitter.com/HUL2781QTI
— Capital (@Capital967) enero 15, 2016
Example! Peruvian boy who takes cares of cars is trending on social media due to his good deed.
One hashtag, #oBrandobien, made a play on words of Brando's name and the phrase obrar bien, meaning “to do good”:
#oBrandobien PRESIDENTE! https://t.co/94lYQKYM6f
— Mario Baca Romero (@MarioBacaRomero) enero 15, 2016
#oBrandobien [Brando doing good] Brando for PRESIDENT!
Gracias Brando, porque sin saberlo no solo me devolvías una billetera… devolvías la ilusión al Pais!!! HAY que… https://t.co/vKnA3SVX4d
— Juan Rodas Sandoval (@JuanRodas_09) enero 15, 2016
Thanks, Brando, because without knowing you weren't just returning a wallet… you were returning hope to the country!!
Mis respetos para BRANDON el adolescente que devolvio billetera con dinero y tarjetas en Cerro AZul ejemplo a imitar por politicos hoy.
— fermin velasquez baz (@FerminBaz) enero 18, 2016
I pay my respect to BRANDON [sic], the boy who returned a wallet full of money and cards in Cerro Azul. An example politicians should follow today.
On January 16 in Puente Piedra, on the other side of Lima, a fire destroyed a cardboard warehouse. For hours, more than 40 firefighters units fought the flames until they were able to contain them and put them out. Their hard work lasted from mid-afternoon until well into the night.
Once the fire was under control, 15 families that live in the affected area decided to show their gratitude to the almost 200 firefighters who responded to the emergency, preparing food for everybody.
¡Qué buena noticia! Ellos se lo merecen =) Vía Diario El Comercio (Perú). https://t.co/iDC3Rioops
— ¡Alértame! Perú (@alertame_peru) enero 18, 2016
Great news! They deserved it =)
Puente Piedra: así agradecieron a bomberos tras incendio https://t.co/PgkZAd6wrA via @elcomercio
— Luis Miguel Bravo (@lmbravo) enero 18, 2016
Puente Piedra: This is how firefighters were thanked after the fire.
Un ejemplo a imitar -Puente Piedra:vecinos agradecieron así a #Bomberos tras incendio https://t.co/Wa8ooORs9S
— C Rubio (@christian_rubio) enero 18, 2016
An example to be followed – Puente Piedra: This is how neighbors thanked the firefighters after the blaze.
Incendio consume depósito de reciclaje de papel en Puente Piedra https://t.co/Zrk6RyDGg3 pic.twitter.com/q29Phfl5TA
— La Mula (@lamula) enero 17, 2016
Fire consumes recycled paper warehouse in Puente Piedra.
Firefighters are especially appreciated in Peru, as they are all volunteers:
Los llamados hombres de rojo previenen, controlan y extinguen incendios, realizan acciones de atención en accidentes vehiculares y emergencias, rescatan vidas expuestas a peligro de manera voluntaria, es decir, sus servicios no son remunerados.
The so called “men in red” prevent, control and put out fires, assist with car accidents and emergencies, and rescue those in danger, all on a voluntarily basis, meaning they don't receive any payment for their services.