In January and May of 2013 I went on two trips to Tehauntepec, Mexico to teach acupuncture to a group of dedicated and enthusiastic health care workers and other interested people. I was impressed with the teaching methodology Richard had created and how quickly the students learned, despite a great range of educational backgrounds. What was most impressive that upon returning to Mexico for the second trip, hearing and seeing the successes, the real improvement in the lives of the patients of our students. We also had a lot of fun along the way and made great friends with our students.
I was very fortunate to volunteer with PAAP in the Fall of 2011. This experience demonstrated for me the true adaptability of acupuncture as a healing modality. In two weeks, our team trained roughly 50 health care workers to perform safe and effective acupuncture treatments within the walls of bare-bones, rural clinics. During that time, the trainees treated hundreds of patients, presenting with a vast spectrum of complaints, ailments, and symptoms. The trainees were eager to learn. The patients were grateful for the care. I was most impressed by the fact that this non-profit, by design, sought to directly place the technical necessary for this treatment into the hands of the community being served.
Review is for PanAfrican Acupuncture Project. I had a wonderful experience in Uganda 4 years ago. Their work has touched so many lives so positively and I learned so much and experienced so many things that I would never have seen in the United States. I highly recommend this remarkable experience to all acupuncturists, whether they just graduated or have been practicing for many years. It will really show you the power of this medicine in a way that you just can't see at home.
I volunteered as a trainer with PAAP in the spring of 2010, and then got to return as a coordinator/trainer in December of the same year. It was an eye-opening experience that taught me a lot about the power of acupuncture as well just how much of a difference a volunteer organization could make. Richard Mandell is really the driving force behind this group, and his passion and drive really inspires each of the trainers as well as the local Ugandan trainees. PAAP works to train local healthcare workers in simple acupuncture protocols to help treat the many conditions they are seeing in their clinics. This organization does not just come in, provide care for a couple of weeks, and then leave, but instead it provides a foundation for continuing care within the the local community for years and years to come. This sustainability makes my two weeks of volunteering count for so much more than just two weeks. For me, it will last forever, as I witnessed so many inspirational stories that I will carry with me throughout my days as an acupuncturist.
I traveled to Uganda as a volunteer for PAAP in 2004. It was a fantastic experience to work and live with the Ugandan health professionals. I was so impressed with how much good PAAP could do for so many on so little money. The organizers were tireless, efficient and fun. The patients were so grateful and gracious and the experience I gained was really unparalleled. I give PAAP the highest rating!
I volunteered with PAAP in 2008, and Pacific Rim College has chosen PAAP as an approved Global Outreach clinical opportunity for our acupuncture students. I have worked with many health organizations offering free healthcare in developing nations, and I have never encountered one with such a bold vision as PAAP. It is not just a vision either; it is a reality helping thousands of people to get healthcare that they otherwise could not afford, and it leaves a legacy in those communities for continued healthcare. - Todd Howard, President, Pacific Rim College
I was a volunteer for PAAP in Uganda and we conducted two acupuncture trainings there. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life because I saw what an impact acupuncture had on those in Africa who need it most. Both the health care workers going through the training and the patients receiving the treatments received it open-heartedly and experienced incredible improvements in their health conditions, sometimes getting relief from pain that they hadn't experienced in years. Richard is tireless and passionate in working to bring acupuncture to those who normally wouldn't receive any other type of health care and his co-worker Allen who coordinates much of the work is a devoted powerhouse! PAAP is doing some important work and I hope they continue to receive much needed help and funding.
I volunteered as a trainer for PAAP in March 2010. I was an Acupuncture student at the time. The trip was rewarding for me on many levels. First, I was impressed with how organized was the training. The coordination of PAAP's founder Richard Mandell and on-site coordinator Allen Magezi was remarkable. While impressed with the competency of PAAP's staff, I am always in awe of Richard Mandell's continual devotion to the project. I find Richard to be an excellent role model for running a non-profit. Second, seeing how well the patients respond to acupuncture, blew my mind. It confirmed for me that I chose the right medicine to study. Third, seeing the trainees wide-eyes and helping them through the process of learning about acupuncture meridians to treating others in their community not only gave me the confidence to treat others in my own community, but also gave me hope for humanity as well. Lastly, as a student, I wasn't sure of how I could help with the trainings, but I quickly learned if you are a willing to help, there is always some need that's helpful, you would be surprised. Even holding a flashlight while a trainee needles a patient, helps a patient feel better - and that is what PAAP does best. Help lots of trainees perform acupuncture so they can help people in their community to feel better. I can't wait to go on another training someday. I highly recommend PAAP to anyone interested in healthcare.
I joined Richard and his PAAP volunteers on a trip to rural Uganda in 2009 and I have been following PAAP progress ever since. Working with PAAP was a truly wonderful experience. As an acupuncturist normally practising in the UK, it was for me a real eye-opener to be exposed to the kind of conditions and health problems commonly experienced in the developing world. We worked with nurses who had previously received two weeks of training from Richard, and were already treating patients with acupuncture and obtaining very impressive results. It was so encouraging to witness how quickly the trainees embraced this form of medicine and managed to master the techniques. Travelling and working in Uganda can be daunting and challenging at times, but it’s a huge advantage to have the support of Richard with his years of experience and knowledge of African culture and society. PAAP has helped thousands of people in Uganda, and for me it was a privilege and a delight to be part of it for a short time. It’s also a great way to see Africa, and I can honestly say that if I could, I would go on every PAAP trip.
I have know of this program for over 8 years now, and been aware of the tremendous work and benefit it provides. Richard Mandell is not only supporting the people of Uganda but also the acupuncture profession & training through the PanAfrican Acupuncture Project . A fantastic organization!
I volunteered to be a team member of PAAP under the supervision of a remarkable man, Richard Mandell, the founder of PAAP. As I spoke with him on the intake interview, His sincerity came through in his words and I decided to go to Uganda as a member of the team. We trained two groups: one comprised of African healers from their villages and the other health care professionals. Both were amazing and filled with life altering experiences--people walking for miles for a treatmetn, no shoes. Hopeful faces. Kind words. Gratitude. Communicating in other ways besides words--through, touch, expressions and with the help of the trainees. One day during break, the healers formed a line and we began singing a song which I found out later was about herbal medicine. We snaked around the room and had a blast. So, yes, go if you can . mk christian
I travelled to Uganda in November 2010 through PAAP. It was an experience of a lifetime. The contacts in Uganda were so wonderful and organized, we ran several successul clinics. To help share this knowledge is truly heartwarming. Thank you PAAP!!
I went to Uganda in December 2010 and i found its motto very profound which is established with a very true intention of giving back to the community who need it the most!!! PAAP is working with the objective of passing ones knowledge and skill how to practice Acupuncture and apply it right away so that it makes it very easily accessible to the community who are undeserved and It was one of the time i had a realexcitement be able to give back what i already have and i am happy having the opportunity volunteering to PAAP !!!!!!!!
I traveled to Uganda with PAAP in 2008 to train nurses, midwives and physician's assistants in basic acupuncture protocols. I was stunned by their intimate relationship to birth, illness and death as I found the separation between joy and suffering to be a very thin line. The spirit of the trainees and the patients moved me to seek out ways I could continue this work back home in my own community. The trainees in Uganda came with an open mind and those who were returning for their second training presented success stories with acupuncture that nearly brought me to tears. I was also able to see patients with ailments that I would never see in my clinic at home and put my knowledge of acupuncture to the test. My experience with PAAP was life changing and I would recommend it to anyone interested in engaging the human spirit at it's very best.
I had the opportunity to join the PanAfrican Acupuncture Project in July 2007 in Uganda. It was then my eyes were opened to a beautiful land rich in community, but decidedly poor in medical health access. As an acupuncturist I was able to help educate local midwives, nurses and physician's assistants in basic acupuncture protocols, which they then use with great success in their own communities. I have continued to be an active suporter of PAAP by giving my time and knowledge to assist with the regular maintenance of their website.