Genaro found and returned a million pesos in Palmira despite the fact that his family's electricity had been cut off

The story of Genaro Cuieto (15) , that young man from Palmira who had the gesture of returning more than a million pesos to a pensioner who had lost it , also revealed the difficult situation in which some families in rural areas live, like Genaro himself.

In addition to the fact that the pensioner had that money because she had taken out a bank loan to pay the electricity bill and some medicines, Genaro's family is not doing well either.

The day before the discovery, the electricity had been cut off to the family of contractor Luis Cueito, his wife Lorena Castro and their three children, of whom Genaro is the middle one. They had also run out of gas that day and had no money to replace it . In addition, that gas bottle was the second one they had, because the first one had been stolen, along with the TV, and they had to sell the refrigerator to buy another one. And, to complete the picture, yesterday, Sunday, Genaro's father's boss notified him that he had rented the property where they work and live and that he would be left without work and without a home.

“We didn’t want to share this before because we don’t want it to be interpreted that we are using Genaro and his nobility,” warned Lorena, the teenager’s mother. “We have not provided, nor will we provide, any account to receive contributions and, if someone wants to talk to Genaro and help him in any way, they should come to our house and talk to him personally,” she indicated.

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On Friday, at the Palmira Municipal Delegation, its head Ángel Bottero and two of his collaborators, gave Genaro a diploma and a t-shirt in recognition of his action. “I know this family and they are very hard-working, an example for everyone,” said the delegate.

That same day, the young man's mother agreed to enroll in a training course under the Fomentar plan, which has a scholarship of 45 thousand pesos per month and lasts two months. "The scholarship is for the mother, because she is of legal age, not for Genaro," clarified the municipality.

Meanwhile, the mother admitted to being overwhelmed by the situation, both because of the impact caused by her son's action, which generated a strong media impact at a national level, but especially because of the difficult situation that the family is going through and which seems to get worse by the day.

“The day Genaro found the money (Tuesday 18th) they had already cut off our electricity and we were left without gas, but he did not hesitate in what he had to do and returned the money. That fills us with pride. But it is true, we are going through a difficult time, especially since yesterday Sunday, when the owner of the farm told my husband that he rented it and that our contract was ending,” said Lorena.

"We are waiting for the telegram to arrive and we will have to leave home and work and look for something nearby . We cannot go far because my husband's father, who lives nearby, is an elderly man, deaf and mute and needs care," the woman added.

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The family lives on a farm located on Carbone Street, very close to the intersection of Carril Chimbas and Route 7. The farm is next to the storage silos of the cereal exporter Agroin Las Piedras.

That farm was in full harvest last week when everything happened. Genaro helps with the work there too.

The contractor Luis Cueito has been living there with his family for about six years. He is married to Lorena Castro (37) and they have three children. The eldest is 20 years old and is disabled. Then comes Genaro “and his brother is still little,” says the mother.

On Tuesday the 18th, Genaro went to a schoolmate's house to return a folder. He studies at the 4-242 Eduardo Galeano school , a technical school specializing in agriculture and the environment, located on San Pedro Lane.

As he was walking back along one of the Chimbas roadsides, he found a bag near the bus stop. He opened it and found a significant amount of money. It was later revealed that it was more than a million pesos.

Genaro first called 911 and then his family to tell them what was happening. A patrol car arrived shortly after and the officers were checking the bag and the documents when an elderly woman appeared, walking with a shopping cart and crying.

The woman said she had lost a bag. The police confirmed with the documentation that it was hers and returned it to her, telling her that Genaro had been responsible for finding it.

“The lady hugged him and wanted to give him money, but Genaro said no, that he was young and could work,” said the mother. As soon as the story became known, the media bombarded the family. “That's enough, now Genaro needs to study because he has to take two exams,” said Lorena.

The family, like many rural families, including that of the pensioner who had to ask for the loan to pay for medicine and electricity, is going through a difficult time. However, the couple insisted several times that “we will not give out any CBU or Alias ​​to receive contributions. Whoever wants to talk to Genaro and give him some kind of recognition, can come see him at home. We, the family, will get ahead as we always have. We will have to find another contract around here, to be close to my father-in-law, and we will move forward,” said Lorena, proudly.