Ssenyonjo Allan, Camp Director:

Ssenyonjo Allan, Abundant Life Mentorship Ministries’ Camp Director since April 2018, was born in the Buikwe District of Uganda. Allan holds a Diploma in Computer Sciences from Kampala International University, as well as a Certificate of Advanced Education (senior six level) from Lords Meade Vocational College. Allan has trained under ALMM’s founder Kindri Van Puffelen from the very beginning, having been groomed for a role in camp management. His heart for the kids we serve, and passion to be the person in our students’ lives he wishes he once had in his, are obvious to all around him.

Allan was raised in the slums of Mbbiko, on the outskirts of Jinja, in the care of his great-grandmother, after the death of his father who died of HIV/AIDS when Allan was nine years old. Allan clearly remembers his father’s clan disowning him after the burial, stating he was now his mother’s responsibility. Allan’s mother was a Secondary school level two drop out, having become pregnant in her teen’s, and struggled to find work to support her young family. Allan’s mom entrusted Allan and his sister to be raised by her elderly grandmother, and left them in search of work in Kampala. This left the children exposed and vulnerable to the influences of a broken community. Allan’s childhood was spent largely unsupervised in an area saturated in ignorant and godless ways, limited education, peer abuse, unwanted teenage pregnancy, loss of lives to HIV/AIDS, drug abuse, high levels of theft, and gang activity. Although a mere five present of youth survive the slums of Mbikko and make something of themselves, Allan credits God with protecting him all those years. In 2004, Allan was blessed with an educational sponsorship with Children Of Grace, allowing him access to education and biblical training that completely changed his life. Under the guidance and care of his secondary school’s headmistress, Allan met Jesus and began to change the way he responded to the struggles around him. He started attending programs that helped him grow in maturity in Christ, and standing out against the expectations of his peers in Mbikko.

In 2010, as a student attending COG’s Allstar camp, Allan met ALMU founder Kindri Van Puffelen, a connection that God would use throughout the years to challenge and encourage him to become the man he is today. One of the greatest opportunities from which Allan has grown, was being promoted from a camper to a counselor in training, working alongside his COG mentor, helping influence other students to stay in school and make good choices. This led to assisting at AllStar camps as a junior councilor, and gave him the opportunity to get to know Kindri and the other volunteers who travelled for camp from abroad. Kindri and Allan connected in their passion for speaking into kids lives and became good friends over the years. “Kindri saw something in me that I may not have ever seen in myself; she helped me realize my spiritual gifts and to begin stepping into the plans God had for my life.” When Kindri founded Abundant Life Ministries in 2011, Allan joined her camp team right from the start. He had witnessed God touch lives and restore hope in so many kids lives through camp. As a child of a HIV/AIDS victim, family neglect, and domestic violence, who grew up around so much negative peer influence, Allan knew how important good mentorship and encouragement in a kid’s life was. He decided to make a difference and not allow his experience growing up to define him. “I know first-hand how important what we do at camp is, and I have fallen in love with the way God is working through Abundant Life Ministries. I choose to be part of God’s great wave of change for Uganda, influencing students who can influence their communities. Why pray for change, when God might tell me He created me for this?” Camp, and the community ALMU has built has become a central part of Allan’s life, and he wants to ensure the same experience that made a difference for him is shared with every kid that attends.

Allan remained a core member of ALMU’s camp leadership over the past eight years, and was a key factor in keeping the ministry running after founder Kindri Van Puffelen’s medical evacuation in 2017. Without Allan’s scope on knowledge on the interworking of running camp, his clear understanding of Kindri’s vision for ALMU, and his humble spirit and heart for the team, the ministry may not have survived. Allan was a great motivator for the new interim director Sara Jones, and was a huge support in setting new process improvements, and helping navigate the management of camp and future planning. When Allan was hired as Camp Director in 2018, it was clear to all involved there was no better candidate to serve in this role. His support of the new leadership team and humble determination keeping the volunteer camp team united has been an amazing gift from God. “When I joined Abundant Life, for the first time in my life people cared about me. This camp team is the family I never had growing up and always hoped for. This is why I will always fight to make sure Abundant Life Ministry continues and thrives.”

Magulu Suzan, Secretary Director:

Magulu Suzan, appointed Secretary Director for Abundant Life Mentorship Ministries in October 2018, was born and raised in Uganda’s Buikwe District. Suzan holds a Uganda Advanced Certificate in Education (Senior Six Level), a certificate of Service as Head Girl at Lords Meade Vocational College, a certificate in Entrepreneurship and Leadership with EDUCATE, a Level 1 certificate in Catering and Home Management, and certificates of participation with Child Awake Initiative Africa, Adobe Youth Voices, and Work 4 A Living. Suzan has been volunteering with ALMM as a camp counselor since 2015, and has been instrumental in helping keep the team together in the wake of founder Kindri Van Puffelen’s unexpected medical evacuation. Her passion for encouraging the students we serve, and her humble focus on the overall health of the team have been a true God-send.

Suzan grew up in the slums in Mbikko, on the outskirts of Jinja, in the care of her grandmother after being abandoned by her parents. Having grown up in broken, hopeless community, and witnessing her family torn apart by domestic violence, have impacted Suzan’s desire to uplift and empower the youth around her. Mbikko is locally known as ‘covered’, as in ‘covered in darkness’. Extreme poverty, lack of access to education, prevalence of theft as a means of survival, loss of lives to HIV/AIDS, unwanted teenage pregnancies, rampant drug & alcohol abuse, and general ignorance & godlessness are a part of everyday life in Mbikko. Suzan’s heartfelt desire in life is shine a light into this darkness, going wherever and whenever God sends her to serve God’s people and point them towards His love & grace. By sharing with others the lessons she has learned about leadership, goal-setting, communication, career guidance, and disease prevention, and by sharing the word of God, she hopes to make a difference for the youth in her community. By speaking hope to those that are hopeless, light to those in darkness, life to those that are broken, and joy to those who are hurting, Suzan believes she can bring about change. “I have a dream that one day, young people will be able to make proper informed choices and also lead positively inspired lives through Jesus.” These are the things that make Suzan’s heart beat.

Suzan joined Abundant Life Ministries in 2015 as a secondary level four student, after attending leadership camp. Kindri and the leadership recognized Suzan’s clear strength of character and humble demeanor, were impressed with her gift for leading worship, and easily agreed she was a good fit for the camp leadership team. “I feel blessed being a part of something tremendous, something fun and beautiful, interesting and adventurous, such as this. ALMM has become the amazing, caring, loving and supporting family that I had always longed to have.” Suzan enjoys mentoring young people from communities like her own into the people that God wants them and called them to be. She feels strongly teaching them the truth of Jesus, the Creating Positive Relationships program, trust-building games, and discipleship give her campers a whole new outlook on life not spoken of in the local communities. “I can testify that camp creates a positive impact in the lives of those we have been called to serve. I was one of them.” Suzan looks forward to outreaches & follow-ups with our campers, and has helped organize bible studies to support new believers who gave their life to Christ at camp. She openly shares her contact with students, knowing how important it is for these young students to have a positive role model to go to for advise. Suzan thanks God every day that he gave the vision for this wonderful inspirational ministry to our Founder, Kindri Van Puffelen. Suzan has a true servant’s heart, a gift for encouragement, and a humble spirit that asks simply to help where she can with no recognition. Her ability to see the greater picture, and to bring peace and wisdom into difficult discussions made her a perfect fit for the open position for ALMM’s local director. Suzan might say she thanks God for blessing her with the opportunity of being part of this ministry; truly, we also thank God for bringing her into the family.