Saturday 21st February - from everyone
Mackenzie - Happy
Birthday to me! Being the first student on the trip awake makes no change, but
I decided I wanted to watch the sun rise once again (one of my favourite ways
to wake up now) Yesterday was incredibly hard to say goodbye to all of the
children who I’ve grown to care for. But the excitement of coming home is just
about enough to counteract the sadness. It has been an incredible, eye opening
trip that will stay with me for ever, so I thank everyone involved in
organising it. But now, just over 12 hours from leaving for the airport, all I
need is a huge hug mum!
Jodie - I have really enjoyed my time here in Africa and I
have found a passion that I really want to return and help the community that
we as a team have been working with all week. The hardest thing for me was to
say goodbye to the Acholi ladies last night especially Debbie who was the
interpreter at the church I was in. I cannot wait to get back and see my family
and give everyone a massive hug. Jodie x
Drew - I have enjoyed this trip so much. At the start of the
trip I really started to miss home but once I had read your comments I knew
that you were safe. I loved working with
the children and teaching them new things it made me smile every time and the
translators were so nice. I am ready to come home now to see you all and I
can’t wait to go out for our family meal. Love you loads. Drew xx
Lewis - The trip has been amazing for me. It has been an extremely
eye-opening experience that I will never forget. Working with the Acholi
community and seeing the difference we have been making has made the trip
better than I could have ever thought. The love and appreciation the children
have shown for the mzungu’s is beyond anything we could have imagined. I know
the trip has changed me as a person and I will view everyone and everything in
a different light after seeing how they live out here. I love Uganda and hope
that I can come back again sometime in the future. I’m just dreading the
painful plane back now. Huge thanks are in order for those who made it possible
for me to go on this trip and made it so good: the AfriDACA Team and staff,
CRED Foundation, Helen and Lorna, John and Sophie Njendahayo for hosting us,
Steven the world’s best bus driver (and a class ringtone), my family, in
particular my Granddad Matt. Without his aid in raising all the funds for the
trip I never would have been able to do it as I did so to him, thank you so
much. I could stay here forever (no offence to the UK) and to be honest I don’t
want to come back. This has been the best experience of my life and I will
never forget it. See you all when we’re back to cold Manchester.
Nathan - The trip has really made me appreciate things that
we have back home, I think we already take phones, food and other as we see
them as normal things to have but we also take the smallest thing for granted
too like having a secure home, a room to our selves, a good roof etc. when in
fact over here they’d feel blessed to have any of those things. The hardest
thing for me personally was seeing the kids we had taught within the week
crying as they waved us off as it showed the impact we had made and really put
it in perspective.
Danny - The whole experience from getting on the plane to
going home has been amazing. When teaching in the Acholi quarter the children
never failed to put a smile on my face, but brought a tear to my eye when
leaving. The whole experience has made me reflect on my life back home, both
family life and day to day. Whilst teaching the children it was great to see
the difference we was making to their lives and the community. As a group I
believe we’ve been strong, pulling together at the most difficult of times whilst
still performing. I feel the trip has sparked some motivation for my future and
definitely opened my eyes. Finally I would like to thank all of the AfriDACA
team especially the CRED foundation, John and Sophie our hosts during our stay
in Uganda and the staff for arranging the once in a life time opportunity I
will surely never forget .Danny x
Vicky - This week has gone incredibly fast, from dancing in
the church to teaching the Acholi community to a boat ride on Lake Victoria.
The children inspired me; they smile and laugh at the littlest of things
despite they are living in poverty. They are so grateful for education and I’m
proud to say I have given them some education even if it was only for a week. We moan if we don’t like what’s for tea, how
is that even a comparison when they might not even eat all day, it is no comparison.
It has made me realise how much we actually take for granted and how you can
still have a good time without your phone and internet. Couldn’t have asked for
a better team to be with and if you ever get the opportunity to go on a similar
trip, take it!! Leaving the children on Friday was a struggle, two little girls
I have taught all week wrapped themselves around me and wouldn’t let go. I am
still taking it all in but already it has made me appreciate more and I’m not
ready to come home yet.
Carly - The trip really has been life changing and made me
put my life into perspective. The Acholi community we worked in survived off
the bare minimum and were still so happy to be alive and appreciate what they
had. This has definitely made me appreciate everything I have and not take
anything for granted. Teaching the children something new made me so proud and
seeing them smiling was so heart-warming. Saying goodbye to them knowing we
wouldn’t see them again was my biggest challenge but knowing that we have made
a difference even though we were only there for a week is amazing. The team has
been great and we’ve supported each other so well. Overall everything I have
experienced has changed my life in its own little way and has inspired me to
help others and do the best that I can possibly do
Joe - The first thing that I would like to say is thank you
to DACA and the cred team for giving us the opportunity to experience some of
the lives in Acholi. I am truly proud to be a part of this team and what we have
achieved here, the lives of ourselves and the children will never be the same
again. The friendships that have been created though the laughter and struggles
will last a lifetime. I wish that I
could wake up to the smiles and laughter of the Acholi children everyday but
sadly this trip is coming to end wish saddens me greatly. The house visit was
definitely an eye opener for me, seeing how little they survive on but are
still some of the happiest and thankful people I have ever met. This trip has
definitely changed me for the better; I will definitely be coming back to
Uganda again to catch up with john, the cred team and all of the amazing Acholi
community.
Jaden - I would like to thank all the parents back home for
their continuing support, as you can imagine it has been greatly appreciated.
Honestly I can’t explain in words how much I have enjoyed this week, its
saddens me deeply that it has all come to an end. Not being able to see the
smiles of the young kids I taught anymore will be heart breaking, I just hope
in the near future I can return with such a brilliant and inspirational team.
My aim was to come on this chance of a life time experience and make a
difference to the Acholi community; I can proudly say that I have fulfilled
this. Well done team.
Jack - Everyone is aware of the living conditions people
have to endure in all slums around the world, but you can’t truly understand it
until you have witnessed it for yourself. This week has been such an eye
opening experience that we are all going to find difficult to explain to
everyone back home. I’d like to thank all the staff involved at DACA and CRED
for making this trip possible and providing us with a once in a lifetime
experience. The entire team have performed to the very best of our abilities
and made every day a fun one for the kids of Acholi. Being a member of the
AfriDACA team is something I will remember for the rest of my life.
Mollie - WOW what an experience this has been! It is
impossible to think about the past week without a thousand thoughts going
through my mind but also without it putting a huge smile on my face. It has
been a week of complete mixed emotions. This week has made me realise that I
need to appreciate everything in life even the little things which go
un-noticed like education. Being with the children and the ladies in Acholi
quarters has been amazing, just to see the constant smiles on their faces makes
you think; despite how little they have they are still smiling and having fun.
I wish I could have that satisfaction. I wish I could help each and every one
of the people here but that is an impossible task, I’ve started off with
teaching the children of Acholi quarter for a short week but I hope the future
will lead to more. Leaving the children was hard but rewarding knowing that we
made that small difference to their lives. A huge thank you to Helen, CRED, Mr
Earnshaw, the Acholi quarter and our hosts John and Sophie for this eye
opening, once in a life time opportunity and also the BIGGEST thank you to Steven
the driver, all of the incredible DACA staff and all of the AfriDACA students
for helping to make this trip one that I’ll never forget.– Good job team. Mollie x
Tom - This has been a crazy eye opening week which I won’t forget;
I have learnt not to take things for granted. We are lucky to live in such good
conditions with more than one room that we don’t have to have share with 4
people and chickens. It’s great to see how happy all the kids are when they
know they have little to eat and drink and are living to survive. Big thanks to
CRED, ALL DACA staff, all family and friends, John, Sophie, Steven and the
Acholi Quarter for making this trip happen. And of course the squad it’s self
Travis - It’s been a wild week that has no doubt physically
and mentally drained everyone on the trip in their own ways but it has been one
I will most likely never forget. It is truly amazing to see how happy many of
those in the Acholi Quarter are despite their personal conditions and
situations, and I can understand why many of us may feel annoyed when we return
to Britain. I think I speak for everyone when I say that I’ve thoroughly
enjoyed the trip and would do it all over again, given the chance. So I’d like
to say a big thanks to all of those involved including the DACA staff, the
Acholi Ladies, Lorna and Helen from
CRED, John and Sophie, our hosts, and last but not least, Steven the bus
driver!
John - This week has been no doubt one of the best weeks of
my life and I would quite happily give up all my half terms including summer
despite the heat to come to Uganda and make those children happy by teaching
them. Everything you did for the children made them happy simply giving them
rubbers they seemed so shocked and happy to be receiving something as little as
a rubber it was simply amazing. The whole team has shocked me in a really good
way seeing everyone weeks before I thought some people would really get on my
nerves but the team has been brilliant and I’ve loved it. This whole trip will
no doubt and has already I feel made me a better person I would like to say
thanks to the; DACA team teachers and students, CRED , Helen and Lorna, The
Acholi ladies, John and Sophie as well as their helper as well as the brilliant
bus driver Steven
Toby - Hi all as of writing this we are travelling back from
Jinja on the bus after a great day of shopping around craft shops and also
after having a boat ride on the river Nile. I would like to thank CRED and DACA
for having the chance to go on this once in a life time trip, I would also like
to thank the amazing AfriDACA team as the trip would not have been the same
without all of them and finally I would like to thank John and Sophie our
wonderful hosts for being so welcoming and for providing us with a great place
to stay and feeding us all lovely meals. This trip has definitely changed me as
a person as I have learned to live for the simple things in life and always be
happy just like the kids in the Acholi community. While on this trip I have
really enjoyed myself and I would definitely love to come back as Uganda is
probably one of my favourite places on earth right now. Thanks again to
everyone involved in the trip for giving me this experience and making it one
of the best if not the best experiences of my life, although I am really going
to miss this place I am looking forward to going home and seeing all my family,
I am a bit disappointed as I did not get a tan but this is an experience I will
never forget and I wish I can come back and do it again.
Amy - This trip has made me realise how much I take for
granted back in England. Whilst being out here I have been told so many
different stories that have inspired me and made me realise that if you have a
dream, you can make it happen if you put all your effort into it. If I was to
say anything negative about this trip it would be that it has made me angry as
people back in the UK moan about money and that they haven’t got enough of it
and then there’s the individuals that live in Uganda who hardly have any money
and they still manage to get on with their lives instead of staying at home and
getting paid to do nothing. This week has been mentally and physically draining
but all of the planning has been worth it and I will be coming away from the
trip as a different individual who has different views on things. It has been
such a life changing experience and I have learnt a lot about myself and I
couldn’t have done that without all of the people that have been around me
before the trip and during the trip. Big thanks to everyone!!!!
Rowan - I could not have imagined how much I would have
enjoyed every single second of my first trip to Africa and the beautiful
country of Uganda. This week has been filled with moments of laughter and pure
joy but also with moments of overwhelming sadness. The spirit of the children
and the people of the Acholi community is inspiring, they are full of hope and
joy when many of their lives are full of pain and suffering. It will take me a
while to process everything I have learned during this short but incredible
trp. I hope I will continue to feel inspired when I am back at home and
remember that the simple things in life often bring the most joy and above all
to remain hopeful.
Lorna - What an amazing experience in Uganda the people are
so warm and welcoming. I will never forget the cheer from the children in the
Acholi community when we arrived on the first day to teach. Humbling and
heart-warming, those that have the least are often the most generous. Thank you
to staff and pupils from DACA what a fantastic team you are. I shall never forget
my experiences in Uganda or the people I have met.
Becky - What an inspiring and unforgettable trip to Uganda.
Never having been to Africa before it has been overwhelming to take in all the
experiences I have had. From the children running from their houses to wave at
us to visiting the Acholi ladies in their homes, this has been a huge
eye-opener. I am very grateful to both the staff and students from DACA and
CRED for making this experience so life-changing. It will take time to process
everything we have experienced on this trip – so my blog is short and sweet.
Alan - This trip has been unique it has been absolutely
inspirational on so many levels. The people of Acholi are just fantastic they
have very little yet their faith and community spirit mean they can live with
huge smiles on their faces. I feel very humbled and privileged to have been
part of this experience. Seeing the Acholi children make huge progress in their
education in such a short time and seeing our students develop so much is why I
went into teaching. I would like to thank Helen and Lorna from CRED it has been
magic working with you, also to the staff and students from DACA it has been a
brilliant team effort. John and Sophie have been great hosts – and I have to
mention the food (unlike me!!!!!!!!) it has been tops. It will take a long time
to process all that we have seen and done but it has certainly had a profound
effect on us all. I pray that the Acholi spirit can live with us and that we
can continue to remember how fortunate we are in our lives back in England. Thanks
Sayley
Paul - Wow! As I write, one journey (Afridaca Uganda 2015)
is coming to an end, but so many more personal and meaningful ones are in the
process of starting in the hearts and minds of the most amazing group of
individuals that you could ever meet. For some it may take a little while to
process all that they have experienced over the last few days in Kampala and in
particular in the Acholi Quarter, but as they all do they will realise that
they have grasped the opportunity that they have had with both hands and given
it a massive shake. The ripple effects of their behaviour, actions and pure
love that they have shown to everybody that they have worked with will be felt
for a long time, and as they work out where their own journeys will take them I
am certain that they will shape the future of so many more people in a positive
way. It has been humbling and powerful to be the Group Leader with this team of
DACA staff, students and CRED Leaders.
There are so many people to thank here in Uganda and to be
honest the students and staff have covered them in detail above. The following
are from me at a personal level. Helen as team Leader has not only guided us in
the logistics of the trip but has provided opportunities for people to find
where they are emotionally and spiritually and her actions have touched the
hearts of the whole team. Lorna has given of her time freely, away from her own
family, to share her expertise and passion with the students. The DACA staff
-Sayley, Becky and Rowan – I knew you were all amazing, I just hadn’t realised
quite how much. The work that you have done this week goes beyond anything
anybody can ask from their staff and it shows in the respect that the students
all have for each and every one of you. My final thank you on the blog is to
all the families of the students and staff. Through the blog comments it feels
like have been on this journey with us every single step of the way. I know you
are all proud of the young person that you represent, but they are amazing
because of where they have come from. Thank you for trusting in us and allowing
them to share in this incredible process from the very start at the parents’
meeting to now as we plan the long flight home I know that you will to continue
to support them as they journey on from this point in time.
AfriDACA 2017 – Who knows? The only thing that we can say
for certain is that any future teams need to be aware that they have an
amazingly high standard to live up to, the bar has been raised!!!
And finally, Helen – the easy comment to write here would be
ditto to all of the above! This has been one very special trip, with some
incredibly wonderful young people on it, as well as top class staff. Each and
every person has been uniquely important in how this trip has turned out, and
the team has been just perfect in every way. Thank you to all of you back home
for letting them come – whether they are husband / wife / partner / daughter /
son / brother / sister etc. Without them the Acholi children would have had a
lesser experience this past week.
And thanks for some wonderful blog comments – they have been
the highlight of breakfast each morning, and set us up for the day. I feel like
I now know what everyone will be having for their homecoming dinner tomorrow,
and am fully up to date on all things northern football!
Just one specific thanks on the team front and that is to
Paul who has driven this trip from the DACA end so selflessly, and thanks to
his family for supporting him in it all. I know the lead up to a trip can be a
bumpy road, and Paul has been an absolute star in pulling everything together.
Thanks from everyone Paul.
Now it is time for home, and I wish you all happy reunions.
Please be patient with us all – lots has happened to reshape perspectives and
views of life, and there will be some bumpy moments as we re-enter the old ways
of life, but no longer the same people as we left them. Everyone responds to
re-entry differently, and we have chatted about this as a group, including the
support available at DACA. But if any of you want to chat to me at all, then do
drop me a line or give me a call – Paul has all my contact details or they are
on the cred website.
So, have lovely times getting your young people back, and on
behalf of CRED thank you for them – you all ought to be incredibly proud of who
they are and all that they have achieved. Here’s to the next trip!
20 comments:
So proud of you all, can't wait to see you. John love you xxxx
You are all a credit to your parents for what you have done in Africa with the children you have made them happy it will be lovely to see you on Sunday jodie x x safe flight home all of you
Well done to you all.
I'm sure I'm not the only parent who's had an emotional roller coaster week, but I can't even begin to imagine how you are all feeling!!
Tom we are so very proud of you and we can't wait to see you tomorrow.
Love mum and dad. Xx
Yes they are all a credit to us as a parent,and to daca too.
I know i keep saying it but i can speak for everyone in saying how proud we are and look forward in embassing you all tomorrow with kisses and cuddles at the airport.
Mum dad tayla nana grandad x
I have shed many a tear reading your blogs this week. A truly inspiring experience for you all and I'm sure the Acholi community will be forever thankful for your teachings.
So very proud of you all in what you have achieved this week.
Ms Fowles
What a brilliant team you are!!
SO PROUD!!
Cannot wait to see Mackenzie tomorrow. I may not let her out of my sight for a while :)
Thank you to all of the team out there for looking after our loved ones.
Counting down the hours xxxxx
So very proud of you and the team Joe...can`t wait to see you....love you lots xxx
Happy birthday mac you are amazing we can call pups biscuit names if you like we all miss you from lula.
God bless you all! Safe journey home, see you tomorrow.
Fantastic work all the team and so proud of you all. Lovely comments by you all on the Blog and glad you have all had an amazing experience and took away many memories of Uganda. Safe journey home everyone and see you all at the Airport. Looking forward to a hug Carly. See you tomorrow :-) xxxx
Tears again!!!
I have said thanks all week to CRED and DACA for their planning, enthusiasm, knowledge & skills to bring it all together. I am extremely proud of every single one of you, even though I don't know you all personally, I have followed your journey intently & with immense pride.
Jaden, we are all so proud of your achievement, and maybe now you can see where your skills lie. Can't wait to see you and hope you aren't too big for a mummy hug!!!
You guys deserve a round of applause when you come through those doors tomorrow-you have achieved so much in a short space of time.
Katie really wants to do AFRIDACA 2017-to make a difference line you have, to follow in big brother's footsteps again.
Harriet is coming to ours before I set off so we will be fighting between each other who gets the first cuddle!!
Safe journey-I will be following on plane tracker as per usual!!
See you all on the other side
Lots of love
Mum xx
Hi Jodie your blog was great as always i no you will continue to make a difference, were all so proud , missed you so much cant wait to see you love you always & forever mum xxx xxx
A massive thank you to DACA staff all CRED staff for keeping you all safe you are amazing people xx
Safe journey home ......!!!!
Hi Nathan.
Can't wait to see you tomorrow. We have all missed you & can't wait to have you back home. Hope you and the rest of the AfriDACA team have a safe journey back to the UK. tomorrow. I bet you all wish you could do this experience this all over again. ( pity you wont be there to do it 2017 ).
Thank you to DACA & Cred for allowing Nathan to have this experience. I think he wont ever forget it and will help him in his career as a teacher.
Love & Hugs.
Mum, Andrew , Lincoln & Grandma. xox
Hi mols :) nothing I can say can follow the comments you have all made - you amazing people you !!! so happy at the success of the trip with everyone having gained something amazing from the experience - thanks again to everyone out there for keeping our precious ones safe & happy - can't wait to see u all Tomos - mollie don't get mad at me if I cry - u know what I'm like !!! Haha - anyway sledge at the ready - gona snow tomoz - so Whitehall park here we come - u up for it mol yyyeeeeaaaahh - : ) : ) xxxxxxx mum & dad - luv u loads mol xxxxxxx
Id like to say a huge thank you to everyone at Cred for making this trip possible and for making an incredible differance to those who are less fortunate to us but also in making a differance to my sons life too,these memories I am sure will stay with him for ever.
Thanks to all of the Daca staff team for all of their hard work, dedication and commitment over the least two years to make this possible.
And thanks to all the Daca students for all of their support over the least two years fund raising and supporting each other through this last 10days in a journey that must have made an massive in pact on your lifes.
Thank you to Travis and everyone you all make me feel so PROUD.
Xxx
Id like to say a huge thank you to everyone at Cred for making this trip possible and for making an incredible differance to those who are less fortunate to us but also in making a differance to my sons life too,these memories I am sure will stay with him for ever.
Thanks to all of the Daca staff team for all of their hard work, dedication and commitment over the least two years to make this possible.
And thanks to all the Daca students for all of their support over the least two years fund raising and supporting each other through this last 10days in a journey that must have made an massive in pact on your lifes.
Thank you to Travis and everyone you all make me feel so PROUD.
Xxx
The above has had me in tears (Jack's mum)! Thank you to all the DACA/Cred Staff for giving the opportunity to Jack and all the other students to take part in this trip. I am sure they will carry the memories in their hearts forever! Looking forward to seeing you all at Manchester Airport later.
Love
Mum, Dad, Lewis and Rocky Rabbit
(Proud Parents!)
I could not be any more prouder of our amazing students and the clear compassion they have shown during this trip. I feel this experience will change their lives forever.Great effort all round for team Afridaca. #proudofyouall
Thank you for taking the time to publish this information very useful! .and one more thing you are sexy. I'm just glad that I found you. Looking forward for your next post. Thanks :)
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