Program Reviews

During the 70 days, I have learned so much about my self as a leader, how to work and live so close to others, and how to work as a supportive member of the group. Because of this program, I have gained the skills and knowledge to create less waste, garden and weed, and the importance of giving back to the ‘aina (land). I have found the value in traveling, trying new foods, working and meeting others. This semester has changed my life and perspective for the good and I will forever be grateful to this experience and those I shared it with.

Taking a gap year and going to Hawaii through ARCC was one of the best choices I have made. I got to escape my comfort zone and my little bubble back home to learn more about the world around me. On this program we learned about the culture of Hawaii and how to help the people and environment. Along the way we met some amazing people and made new friends that would forever change my POV of life. I recommend to anyone interested in taking a gap year and looking to find a passion to take on in the future to take a gap year and join a program. Doing this will definitely help you make a choice in what you want to study in the future going into college or university. I recommend this course of action to anyone who just graduated high-school who doesn't know what to do.

My ARCC trip pushed me out of my
Comfort zone and helped me become even more of a leader. I was able to meet so many amazing local people and listen to all of their stories and learn about Hawaii’s history through them. Although my group was very small we all got along really well and had a lot of fun. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be able to travel with less pressure before going to college or figuring out what you want to do. I saw things I never thought I would see — lava, a shark while scuba diving, manta ray snorkel — and I became more confident in myself and my ability to lead and interact with people. Both of my leaders were super inspiring and blended in well with the group. My curiosity and joy of learning were heightened and I am so glad I was able to have this experience and travel before going to college in the Spring. I definitely recommend for anyone taking a full gap year or just a gal semester! A life-changing experience that I will never forget.

The East Africa trip with ARCC was absolutely amazing! We got to try so many new things and immerse ourselves in the local cultures from the very first day. We had the opportunity for home stays, service, and even white water rafting. (My favorite section was our stay at Daraja - the first all-girls school in Kenya.) We got to learn even more about the areas we were visiting through group discussions. Our group had such a fun dynamic and became so close-knit. My leaders, John and Olivia, were so fun and supportive.

I loved my experience with ARCC so much that I’m doing their Pacific Islands program in the Spring!

The group dynamic was incredible everyone was so fun and easy going. The leaders of the program are amazing. They are organized, patient, experienced, knowledgeable and helpful. They are super fun and make the trip so much fun! There were so many awesome amazing memories, however, my favorite might have been when we went white water rafting on the Nile River and it was A BLASSSSST!! I really wish I could do this program again in the spring. John and Olivia are the best leaders ever!! I learned so much about myself and different cultures.

ARCC’s East Africa program has all the stops for a good gap year experience. The people I was with are similar to me, they are all navigating their life as they grow. The social scene is wonderful and you grow really close to these people and learn social skills. Cultural immersion on this trip is very good, the only touristy spot we go is to Zanzibar at the very end. Besides that, you can learn so much from local people. You can choose to be close with your friends, and/or be close with the local communities and culture. It’s a spectacular program. My leaders John and Olivia were the best I could have asked for. This program was so good that I’m doing another gap semester with ARCC, in the spring. Come with me on the Pacific Islands Gap Semester in February of 2024!

ARCC IS THE GREATEST. EVERYONE SHOULD GO ON A TRIP WITH THEM. It is a really great way to meet similar minded people and experience the world like you never had before. You will create lifelong friendships and memories that will last forever. Your worldview will be permanently changed for the better, being more accepting of all and more conscious of how you impact the world. My instructors, John and Olivia were incredible. They quickly became some of my favorite people to talk to, and made this trip the greatest!

I participated in ARCC’s East Africa Fall Gap Program. Coming into the semester, I was excited to meet a new group of students all taking a gap year and explore parts of the world I had never been to. Throughout my semester, I met the best group of people, making friendships I know will last a life time and learned an incredible amount about the cultures, languages, and food throughout East Africa. The service projects were such a valuable experience as well. Even our instructors always brought the best energy to the group and were incredibly supportive throughout our two months abroad. I had such a wide and amazing range of experiences during this trip and learnt so much about the world and myself.

ARCCs East Africa program was so incredibly amazing and life changing. Our instructors, John and Olivia, made the experience 100 times better. Through the homestays, service work, and adventures, I gained so much new knowledge and different perspectives which I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I will forever remember everyone in my group as they became family and will now have forever friends. Although it was never racking to meet a new group of people John and Olivia provided comfort and support that helped me ease my way into meeting everyone and having the group bond with each other.

Going on the ARCC East Africa gap year program was a once in a lifetime experience. This program took us around Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania for 70 days. In each country we explored everything from the big cities to small nooks and crannies. We had a vast variety of opportunities and experiences that I never would have otherwise gotten. The program was well run. All these experiences allowed me to grow as a person. This program allowed me to be immersed in different cultures, bringing new perspectives to every day life for me.