Who signs up twice? Only someone crazy… or completely in love with service. Guilty as charged! 

Those that say that lightning never strikes twice,  they haven’t met a CorpsAfrica Volunteer yet! Here I am, serving for the second time in my own country, and I can confidently say, it’s a feeling like no other. The first time I joined CorpsAfrica, I thought one service term would be enough to experience the magic, to give back, and to grow. But when it ended, I realized something deeper, I hadn’t had enough. I remember telling my former Volunteer Liaison that I wished I could do it again because there was still more to learn, more to give, and more to become. And here I am, proudly doing it again.

There’s something unique about being a CorpsAfrica Volunteer. You go into a community as a stranger, full of dreams and energy, and slowly, the community wraps its arms around you. You stop being the leader (alangizi) and start being one of them. You share meals, laughter, challenges, and small victories. You celebrate births, attend weddings, mourn losses, and become part of the rhythm of life there. It’s not just service, it’s connection at its deepest level. That’s the kind of experience that makes it hard to walk away, and that’s exactly what drew me back.

Now, I know some people might say, “You went back because of the stipend.” And honestly, that’s an easy assumption to make. But the truth is, if the stipend was taken away, I would still serve. Why? Because the fulfillment that comes from seeing lives change, from seeing children go back to school, from helping a community build something they once thought impossible, that feeling is priceless. CorpsAfrica teaches you that impact isn’t measured by the size of your allowance but by the size of your heart.

Being a Volunteer for the second time also feels like coming home. The familiar blue T-shirt, the training sessions filled with laughter, the late-night reflections about community challenges, it all feels like returning to a family reunion. CorpsAfrica isn’t just an organization; it’s a home where passion meets purpose, and where every Volunteer finds a version of themselves they never knew existed. You can’t just get rid of that kind of family.

Of course, service isn’t always easy. There are days when things don’t go as planned, when communities move slower than expected, or when you miss home. But those are also the days that shape you most. You learn patience, humility, empathy, and resilience. You realize that real change takes time, and that every little effort counts.

So yes, I’m serving again. And who knows? Maybe after this second service, I’ll still feel I haven’t had enough! Because once you experience what it means to truly serve, to be part of something bigger than yourself, it’s hard to stop. CorpsAfrica is more than a chapter in my life, it’s a lifelong story. And I’m proud to be part of it, again and again.

Once a volunteer, always a volunteer!