"My experience with African Promise
Expeditions changed my entire life"
- Jessica Livingston
Jessica Livingston June 2017
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"My experience with African Promise Expeditions changed my entire life. I was exposed to the most intimate parts of Africa and was given the opportunity to create life-long friendships and begin to really understand the Ugandan people. Unlike most service-based groups that travel to Africa, APE focuses on moving around Uganda, exposing the people on the trip to several different areas, experiences, and people. We did little service projects here and there that allowed us to teach and learn with the people, or allowed us to work with the people and maybe take a little of their daily burden away from them that day. We had the goal of providing some sunshine in their lives, showing them a glimmer of hope, and helping them understand their true potential. APE strives to educate and inspire both Ugandans and those that go on the trip. Because we moved around so much, we were able to make multiple friendships from all over the country, and have an impact on more people - or more like more people were able to have an impact on us. Westerners may have more access to funds and opportunities, but we can not solve all of the problems in Africa, and the people there are more than capable of helping themselves, if they just know how to and know that they can! Suzy is very aware of this and comes to Uganda to partner with the people in order to help them get what they need to help themselves! Another benefit to APE is that each trip is with a relatively small group, giving you lots of opportunities for friendships within the group, but is small enough that the group truly ends up feeling like a family. Suzy does a good job at making a very open and vulnerable environment where each group member is able to open their hearts to each other and to Africa in a safe place. Suzy has several contacts in Uganda that were able to navigate the country and the projects that we do with expertise, and providing a safe experience. The group and those Ugandans that were with us truly became my family, and I learned more about non-profit work and Uganda than I could have ever hoped to learn. My experience truly changed my life and my view on humanity, and for that I am eternally grateful."
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McKinley Johnson June 2017
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"It would almost be silly of me to not get on here and write a little testimony about my trip in Uganda with African Promise Expeditions. Although, it may be harder than I thought putting my experience into words. How forever grateful I will be for my time spent there! There was laughter, there were tears, there was heartache, and joy that overrode all of that. Having been to Africa before with a different group, I was grateful for Suzy's objective of connecting personally with not only the people, but the CULTURE! How incredibly important it is to learn about and embrace the culture in order to have a real experience. My experience with going with APE was exactly what I had always dreamed of Africa being like. Singing, dancing, handshakes, time in the villages and homes, rice & beans (and lots of it haha), and the light of the African culture. In short, I will surely be going again, and I won't ever go with another group than APE!"
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Steve Ransom volunteer 2015
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"I recently returned from a trip to Uganda with African Promise Expeditions (APE). I had the most amazing experience. Our trip was filled with countless “life changing” events. Leading the way was Suzy Gillies. Her vision, planning and execution of the itinerary was flawless. APE was organized, connected and ready to make every effort to make sure our needs were met. . Suzy was always a step ahead and was always anticipating in case something changed (as it seems to happen in Africa). Safety was a small concern of mine prior to the trip since I was bringing my family and my first time to Africa. However, Suzy was an expert in travel to and in Uganda and at no time did I ever feel unsafe. I was impressed with how smooth the entire trip went. APE nailed every detail."
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Stacie Miller volunteer 2015
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"I want to thank African Promise Expeditions for putting together this amazing trip! Like a fellow volunteer said, "The people of Uganda did so much more for me than I did for them." It was great working with the team from APE. Some of my favorite activities were digging a well, building a mud kitchen for a school and distributing 1,000 Days for Girls hygiene kits. This was an amazing, life altering experience. Thanks Suzy for making it possible!"
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Daina Crowell volunteer 2013
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"There are no words to sum up a life changing experience. My trip to Uganda with African Promise was truly life changing. I learned so much about a different culture and about myself. I came home with a new perspective on life, more appreciative for the things I once took for granted. The trip was so well organized and I didn't feel any stress which allowed me to take in the full experience. Suzy and African Promise are so well connected in Uganda that we had contacts most everywhere we went. My 9 yr old daughter was so inspired by my trip that she is now saving her money so I can take her with me when she is 12! I can't wait to share the adventure with her"!
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Leah Schlegel volunteer 2013
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"I'm moving to Australia for a year in October and one of the many things Uganda and African Promise gave me is the courage to keep seeing the world and put myself out there to new experiences. I can't thank Suzy and the rest of the group enough for that trip".
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Rebecca Phillips 2013 Volunteer
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"My trip to Uganda was everything I’d hoped for and so much more. The volunteers were amazing, the food was actually pretty good, the people left a huge impression on my heart, and I learned a lot about what it really means to love and serve. We participated in several awesome projects (visiting the Gulu Prison being one of my favorites), and were able to experience in a small way what another culture is like".
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Holda B. Crocker 2013 Volunteer
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"Before visiting Uganda, I perceived news about Africa as being about "other" people from a "different" place. But in Uganda I met moms of small children the same age as my own, who are dealing with challenges that make American working motherhood look easy. I have such an admiration of their human strength and resilience, and now hear every news report as a personal, human story.
Uganda has a complex society that no doubt affects their approach to solving current issues. I'm so thankful that Suzy and African Promise Foundation prepared us before our trip so that we could understand the historical context in which Ugandans are trying to improve their country and communities, and how Western influence affects progress. A year later I am still processing some of the lessons learned during our visit; though humanitarian service is a primary goal, the potential for personal enrichment is enormous. If you are on the fence about joining an APF journey, make the decision and do it". |
