Integration does not just mean becoming one of the community members, but coming to understand them. For you to understand them, you need to listen deeply through the lens of empathy. Listen to the things they talk about and beyond. During Pre‑service Training (PST), I came across various concepts. However, during my integration period, I came to understand that what I learnt at PST was enough but not entirely complete for me. This is because I learnt more of the theoretical content which I felt needed a deeper practical complement. That is when I realised that you don’t learn something enough until you have experienced it.
Navigating through the whole two months, days were not similar. Some days meant having to put so much effort just to obtain unimpressive results. Others meant being productive after little effort. However, all these efforts were not in vain. This irony is where the beauty of service lies.
One thing I am proud of is that I was able to take a break. Oftentimes, I would pose to reflect on what I was doing. I could ask myself several questions. For example, what have I done so far? Did I use the right approach? How do my community members feel about this? How does it affect my self‑development? Just to mention a few.
Every time I asked myself a question, I made sure I was honest to myself. I also obtained feedback from a few community members. Throughout the period, I also realized that my service was not just to support the transformation of my community. It was also meant to transform me. After all, what would I gain in an impossible scenario where I end up helping the community members build their capacity without building mine?
This helped me realise that the greatest asset I had was myself. So, I had to nurture it. As I was pursuing my bachelors, I came across the experiential learning approach which involves learning by doing. That is the power that lies in experience. In my integration period, I could not reverse anything that happened. Luckily, every time there was the opportunity to do better.
In my case, it involved taking one day at a time. I reminded myself that every day I showed up mattered. Little fragments were building up into the bigger picture. Therefore, if all it takes that day is to lay one stone on the foundation, it still is progress. I began to see progress at its own pace. I also began to celebrate little successes through embracing gratitude.
Being a volunteer is just life itself. It involves living my life for others. Trusting them even though there’s no guarantee of reciprocation. This makes the seed of service grow in me. To me, serving as a CorpsAfrica/Malawi G9 volunteer isn’t just necessary but very essential. It has helped me realise that I cannot give what I do not have.
Lastly, there is one thing I would do if I could go back to my integration period. I would start practicing gratitude earlier. Because it gives me a positive attitude, and that positivity lights a spark of a rare energy that prevents burnout.
As you reflect on what you do every day, do not just think, act. Then, pause, list three things you are grateful for, and let that gratitude fuel your next steps.