"Why would I recommend The Backpack to someone in my family or one of my friends? 

Because it is special. It is a special opportunity to study many aspects of human and spiritual

development. It is, as it says in the manifesto, a programme that allows us to develop
'Essentials Tools for Life'.

These tools are encompassed in 3 major sections of the program. These are: my relationship
with myself, my relationships with others, and finally my relationship with God. I am
recommending this program to my family and friends because it allows me to practice so
many invaluable skills. It gives me an understanding of myself through education about
human development, well-being in all aspects of life, neuroscience, emotional regulation and
resilience, self-awareness. It gives me an opportunity to practice how to live and thrive in
relation to others, by looking at our imperfections, our gifts, our conscience. It teaches me
what healthy and unhealthy relationships look like. In Part 3, we get to examine our Christian
Faith, in a way that is balanced, astute, and celebrates a real, living faith that we all strive
for. 

On reflection, it would seem that we all are in need of this program. It is delivered by a team
of highly dedicated and motivated staff of the highest professionalism and tact. And, to boot
it is fun! Having done it myself, I can attest to the fact that people do this from all ages from
12 upwards to any age. Why do I recommend The Backpack? Because its contents and
teachings are the future. Education needs this. Teachers need this. Parishes and communities
need this. Individuals too."

(James, 32, Psychotherapist & Educator)

"At the beginning of the program, Mrs.Clarke encouraged us to pay attention to something that might jump out at us while we took the AFF online course. This happened to me in a profound way.

Throughout my life, I noticed that on some days I could only see a person’s flaws or I would only look at everything that was negative. Other days I could only see a person’s good qualities or look at everything that was positive or good in my life and not even notice any flaws. I wondered why everything seemed positive on some days and negative on other days? I wondered if they were just negative days and I had to endure them or if I doing something wrong on those days. I could never really figure it out. 

Then while watching the training, I realized that I finally found my answer. This is what jumped out at me. I was functioning from the primitive area of the brain on the negative days. Some event or situation or even a dream could have triggered a loop of thinking that landed me in that area of the brain. On the happy, positive days I was functioning from the higher brain, more spiritually. I was doing all of this subconsciously. 

Now I know that when I am looking at a person’s flaws or just looking at negative things in my day, that is my clue that I need to ‘cross the bridge’ over into the other area of the brain, the positive area. Now I finally have more control over how I view every event and person in my day. I can purposefully choose to look at what is good, regardless of any and all external circumstances. This is the reason the cup is half full or half empty. It’s half empty in the primitive brain and half full in the higher brain. It is so good to know that we have the power inside us to change our perspective in every moment. This is how we give God our best!

The AFF Training has made such a profound difference in the way I view everything. I feel I have much needed tools to choose and respond better to events in each day."

(Marie, 58, Reading Specialist)