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-Camryn
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“I have always believed that everything happens for a reason. When I first learned about APE, I had been patiently waiting for over 10 years to fulfill a soul-calling to travel to Africa. Now having returned home from my trip, I know with certainty that this dream hadn’t yet come true because I was meant to realize it with Suzy and APE. My trip to Uganda has left me a changed person whose heart is the fullest it has ever been. Suzy’s understanding of Uganda, its people, and how to foster a partnership with them was essential to our experience, and I could not imagine traveling to Uganda without this intention guiding our team. The purpose of an APE trip is very simple: love, connect, learn, and serve. Africa is a magical land filled with many lessons to offer to its visitors, so long as you are willing to enter with humility. In many ways, Uganda broke my heart while simultaneously letting the brightest light fill and pour through it. I am infinitely grateful to Suzy for leading me through this enlightening journey with grace, empathy, and love. From holding hands with school children as we walked along a dirt path to dancing around a bonfire with live drummers, I have beautiful memories that - each time I reflect on them - breathe new life into me and remind me of what is most important in this world. There are an infinite number of lessons to take away from an experience like this one, and I have a feeling I will still be unpacking them in the years ahead. In my heart, I will forever hold onto the rich relationships I built, the unconditional love that I felt, and the freedom that I had to simply be. It is my hope that you will choose to embark on this journey with Suzy and APE, as I can promise you that it will be one of the greatest and most important decisions you ever make for yourself and your life.” |
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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Tony Mosier
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"As a father of several children I wanted to give them the gift of perspective and a softened heart. I sent them with African Promise Expeditions with full confidence in Suzy Gillies leadership and experience. She did not disappoint. Africa worked it's magic on my children. They came home with gratitude for the important things in life, their hearts brimming with love for the people of Africa and their fellow travelers. They tell me the only thing more inspiring than the location and culture was the people they travelled with. Suzy did a masterful job seeing the needs my children had. She brought out the very best in them. She used the principles of love, connection, and unconditional positive regard to help them feel safe in all ways. From this place of emotional and physical safety they were able to surrender themselves to the experience, falling in love with these special people from the other side of the world. As a parent, I feel so fulfilled in having given them an opportunity that taught lessons they can't learn as deeply in a classroom, at college, at church, or in any other setting. I am very grateful for Suzy's vision, leadership, love, and everything else A.P.E. gave my family."
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Isabella Bernas
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"This amazing trip has changed my life forever. I have learned so much about love, kindness and acceptance. The people of Uganda are beautiful and in my short time there I have seen just how much love they have to give. Most people view Africa as a country of starving children in need of our help and money, they don’t want our money and they don’t want our sympathy. They want us to come to them and learn with them and build friendships with them. Though we may be from different places we speak universal languages such as love, kindness or smiling. Everyone greets you with a smile or a handshake and you always feel welcome. I’ve never witnessed so much love as I did on my trip and I will treasure it forever and I will do my best to make sure that immense amount of love fills my life and others lives."
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Brenda Kranz Mindful Humanitarian 2018
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"I'm finding it difficult to express how meaningful and enjoyable the experience was that Suzy and Noah offered us on our recent trip to Uganda with African Promise Expeditions. Suzy's passion, organisation and personal care were outstanding from the moment I first contacted her.
The trip was just delightful and, as importantly, has made a lasting impression. My partner Mark and I were privileged to do a gorilla trek with Suzy and Noah and another friend Colin before meeting the rest of the group. Highly recommend it! Our time at African Hospitality Institute (AHI) was sheer delight. Everything from the morning meditation listening to the most beautiful orchestra of birds, the connection with the AHI students, staff and the beautiful Maggie, the others in our group (we are now family), our time mudding a school classroom, the meaningful discussions led by Noah, helping at several schools, the amazing food (I repeat, the amazing food!) and delightful accommodation, the sheer joy of getting to know the local people, and of course the safari (seeing 3 young giraffes all with umbilical cords still attached was one of the many highlights) - all beyond words. Organised by Suzy superbly, and with the occassional spontaneous treat for good measure. Always felt completely safe and in good care. So grateful for the experience, the friendships, the care and connection with the human and non human primates, the culture and breathtaking environment. Do it if you can! " |
Suzy Q, Mindful Humanitarian 2018
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"In February, I had the great fortune of heading off on an adventure with 13 people I had never met to the Pearl of Africa, Uganda. I'm not the kind of person to say something 'changed my life' lightly, but this was a truly landmark experience for me and gave me the opportunity to connect deeply with my authentic self in a way I had never done.
What I found was deep and lasting friendship with kindred spirits from all walks of life and diverse histories and stories to share. Experiencing raw honesty and intimacy in this way was such a powerful thing that has changed the way I show up in all my relationships since coming home for the better. I have found the courage to embrace the dreams that I have for myself and to look my fear of failure or inadequacy square in the eyes and embrace it mindfully and as a friend. I’ve learned that those feelings do not need to define me or my actions, I have a choice, a voice, peace, and agency. I cannot say enough about this incredible experience and would like to invite anyone interested in really getting in touch with their own heart, with others, and finding their north star and peace with the world to reach out or even go on this adventure for yourselves." |
- Pamela C., Mindful Humanitarian 2018
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"I wanted my first experience of Africa to be immersive and intimate - to see the extraordinary landscapes and wildlife, yes, but more importantly to learn about the people and the culture. Suzy and her amazing colleagues in Uganda provided a extraordinary opportunity to see, feel, hear, taste, and touch a remarkable place where I discovered so much that was different and even more that was shared. If you are interested in a heart-opening, mind-blowing adventure, this trip is it. This experience will change your life."
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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". |