Phillippe & Martine Tafelmacher –
Geneva, Switzerland
A very, very unique experience with a lot of emotions, helping us understand the needs and wants of the needy Swazi people. One thing is to contribute from our cozy homes, another thing is to actually participate in their daily lives and contribute also from our soul. Taking into consideration the complexities of organizing such a trip Jacaranda Journeys have done an admirable job.
Lisa McLean – Toronto, Ontario
Your attention to detail, passion to help others, empathy and flexibility helped to make this a trip of a lifetime. It was well beyond my expectations and we have you to thank for that. Your good nature and great sense of humour were an added bonus! I think I can speak for the group to say you inspired each one of us to do our best to make their lives a little bit brighter. There is so much to process about our experience at the halfway house and I hope to return one day with my daughter. Feeling very grateful for this journey and getting to know you
better.
Bud Patel – Head of school Brentwood College, Mill Bay, BC
Dear Pam,
Thank you for all of your work both pre, during and post Swazikids’ service trip with our Brentwood Students. Your attention to every last detail created a magical and authentic experience for them. I appreciate your efforts and look forward to thanking you in person.
You’re a star and the impact you made of these Brentonians will last a lifetime. I am in awe.
You are a dream guide/leader, I loved every portion of the trip.
Everyone has been asking me and my current answer is that it was more than I imagined and that I wish I could go back tomorrow! Seriously Pam you provided a chance of a life time to see a part of the world I was only able to dream about and gave me the opportunity to open in myself something that has been missing maybe for a while. I loved every moment of the trip with different degrees of engagement, understanding and learning. My hope is that I will be able to go with you again and hopefully with more of my family.
Eva Dicasmirro, Vancouver, BC
This trip was a truly memorable experience. I felt like I was in capable hands from arrival to departure. The smiles and genuine appreciation from the kids, teachers and parents on completion of our painting of the school will be forever etched in my heart. The safari was icing on the cake for me. The 5 star lodge, our exceptional guides and being able to be to feel safe being so close to these amazing wild animals was surreal. I felt that our safety was never compromised.
I did not know Pam leading up to the trip I went on in April. I was referred to her through a friend of a friend but it was truly a leap of faith and I am so happy I did it. This trip was so thoughtfully curated – we worked, we played, we shopped, we hiked, we saw women at work, we met fascinating locals. We ate great food, and toured the beautiful country experiencing local life in a way most don’t have the privilege of seeing. I felt safe, I felt appreciated, I felt exhilarated. Thank you Pam for the trip of a lifetime. Ngiyabongoa.
Swazi Kids is a small but remarkable organization that gets support directly to eSwatini’s most vulnerable children. I was deeply moved seeing how effectively Swazi Kids transforms young lives through education.
The trip to Swaziland in 2019 was amazing. Under Pam’s incredible time management and organizational skills, we visited a number of different aid projects that Swazi Kids is sponsoring (schools, orphanages, micro-loan projects, community centers), saw the beautiful countryside as we travel to the projects, went on a safari, hiked in the protected forest/savannah park that was full of zebras, antelope, hippos, etc. We met and interacted with many of local people, saw local dancing and visited markets and businesses selling all sorts of Swaziland art. Accommodations were great and we never felt at risk or had any security issues. Pam was a fabulous host, knew her way around all sorts of interesting situations. Our visit was one we could talk about for years. It was a privilege to be invited – this was one of my favorite all time trips!
Sean and I felt that our trip to Swazi with you was the most unforgettable trip either of us have ever been on. Your familiarity with the country and people made it so easy for us to navigate and enjoy our experience there. As a woman, I always have some concerns with safety when travelling somewhere so unfamiliar to me, but knowing the extent of your personal connections with every location we visited put me completely at ease. Anyone considering a trip to Swaziland to both visit and lend their time to one of the amazing charities, halfway homes or collectives you introduced us to is truly in for an amazing, fulfilling experience.
I have had the pleasure of knowing Pam Carlson personally for over 25 years and recently joined her on a big build adventure in Swaziland. There is much to talk about, but the core of Pam’s ongoing work was the visiting of numerous schools where she used her laptop
computer notes to individually interview and get updated on scores of students in the Swazi Kids system from the tailgate of her truck! Pam quickly assessed and acknowledged what
was working and offered immediate and “no nonsense” solutions for what needed to be improved. I need to tell you here that as I witnessed some of the details of these children’s ordeals that there are shocking and heartbreaking circumstances that some of these children need to overcome just to get themselves and their younger siblings fed, sheltered and off to school each day to even have a shot at an education.
I am a continuing supporter of the Swazi Kids as I have witnessed firsthand Pam’s commitment and diligence to have every dollar possible count towards its intended purpose.
I had the privilege of participating as a donor participant on one of Pam’s trips to Swaziland. I have travelled extensively in remote places, in harsh conditions, and in dangerous places. Pam’s ability to organize everything with seamless efficiency made the trip stress free. If you’re looking for a great off the beaten path experience, with the right balance of cultural exposure, adventure and creature comfort- look no further than Pam. Swaziland with Pam ranks right up there as one of the best things I have done in my life. The trip was fantastic!
A very, very unique experience with a lot of emotions, helping us understand the needs and wants of the needy Swazi people. One thing is to contribute from our cozy homes, another thing is to actually participate in their daily lives and contribute also from our soul. Taking into consideration the complexities of organizing such a trip Jacaranda Journeys have done an admirable job.