The real test of everything learned during PST began on 16th December 2026.
First day in my community Kununku when Theory Meets Reality. It was the second day of deployment, exactly at 12:44 p.m. on Tuesday, and I was the second volunteer to be deployed.
Arriving in Kununku, I was nervous, more nervous than I expected. This was not my first time working with a community, but it was my first time entering a community without a ready project. No proposal. No activity plan. No promised intervention. Just myself, the CorpsAfrica approach, and an open mind. That alone made me feel completely lost. That evening, I took a stroll around the village to familiarize myself with my new environment. I met a few community members, and almost everyone said the same thing: “Thank you for coming to help us. We want this… we want that…” The list of needs continued.
Each time, my response surprised them and even surprised me. “I am not here with a ready project. CorpsAfrica we don’t come to do projects like that. We have a different way of working.” Once I said that, most conversations ended quickly. Because I wasn’t saying what they really expected to hear from me. For the first time, I truly felt what it means to stand in uncertainty, trusting a process rather than offering immediate solutions. It was uncomfortable.
PST had prepared me for this moment but living it was different. As it got dark and I was still new in the area, I decided to return home. Yes to my host family.
The First Night, Fear, Doubt, and Growth That evening, I sat with my host family. We talked, laughed, and shared stories. They made me feel welcome and safe. Eventually, I went to my room to sleep. That night was one of the longest nights of my life. My room was simple with no electricity, just a small space for sleeping. My mind was reflecting on different things. And I thought about my past work, where I lived comfortably because I decided where to be accommodated and traveled to communities to offer services. This was different. With CorpsAfrica, you live in the community, adapt to their system, and learn from them. The weight of that reality hit me hard.
Still in the same night, then something happened. A cat entered my room through a small opening under the door. I didn’t know what it was at first. In the darkness and silence, fear took over. I tried to stay strong, but tears came. I used my phone light and finally saw it was just a black cat. It left the same way it entered, but sleep never came again. That night, I truly questioned myself. Is this journey really going to be easy?
The following morning on my second day I greeted my host father, mother, and the entire family. Immediately, I noticed that whenever I was with my host family, I felt safe and okay. We ate breakfast together, and I felt nothing but love and warmth. Later, I saw the same cat that had entered my room the night before. And I asked where it came from. They laughed and said, “It’s our cat.” That moment brought relief. Fear turned into understanding. Unknowns became familiar. From that point, I made a decision.
To began compound to compound visits, introducing myself and explaining the CorpsAfrica mission and approach. I entered every compound I could, not to promise projects, but to build relationships. With every visit, I felt lighter. More grounded. More confident. I spent most of my time observing, identifying community assets, listening to stories, and understanding daily life. I was finally practicing ABCD and HCD, not as theories from PST, but as living tools.
By the end of the week, I conducted my first community meeting, where I officially introduced myself and CorpsAfrica’s approach. For the first time since arriving, I felt complete relief. I spoke clearly. I listened carefully. The community welcomed me and expressed their willingness to work together.
This journey with CorpsAfrica Is a School. As I write this now, Kununku no longer feels like a place I was assigned to. It feels like home. I see myself as one of them, and they see me as part of their family. My host mother, in particular, has been incredibly strong, kind, and supportive. And yes, I am now best friends with the cats in our compound.
Looking back, I realize something powerful: Just as PST dismantled my confidence and rebuilt it with humility, my first days in Kununku did the same. Before PST, I thought I had mastered community development. Before integration, I thought I was ready. Both experiences taught me the same lesson: learning never stops. CorpsAfrica is not just a volunteering program. CorpsAfrica is a school. A school that teaches patience, humility, courage, and trust in people.
A school where transformation happens not in classrooms alone, but in quiet nights, honest conversations, shared meals, and unexpected moments. This journey is not easy but it is real, and it is beautiful.