When I first introduced the idea of monthly skills training in my community, the members of Massembeh responded with enthusiasm. As a CorpsAfrica volunteer my mission is to empower communities by facilitating sustainable development activities that build on local assets. After discussion with community members, during community meetings they decided to go in for Soap making training activity.

The enthusiasm was contagious everyone agreed that learning how to make soap using available resources would be valuable. We discussed the type of soap they wanted, and the community members expressed a strong interest in body soap ,  as something that could improve their hygiene and even create income.

On the day of the training I was eager to see the community gather and participate. But to my surprise and disappointment, only three people attended out of a population of nearly 2,000, the turnout was painfully low. I felt discouraged. I had expected a vibrant, engaging training but instead, the activity felt flat.

Determined not to give up , I rescheduled the training for the following week. I also called another meeting to re-engaged the community.Yet again attendance was poor. At that point, I began asking myself difficult questions: why were community members not showing up?What was preventing them not participating?

I then remember the session from the Pre-Service Training (PST). When faced with challenges, do not give up, try different approaches,ask questions, and seek to understand the community perspective. With this in mind, I decided to go beyond formal meetings. I visited households directly,speaking with families in their compounds.

It was during the visit I discovered the root cause.From April to June, most community members are fully engaged in salt processing. This seasonal activity requires them to spend long hours at the river side, collecting salty sand and transforming it into salt. It is a labour intensive process that occupies nearly all of their time. The only day off is Friday.

However, the revelation was eye opening, I realized that understanding the seasonal calendar changed everything. I recognized that as a volunteer, it is not enough to introduce activities, I have to align them to the rhythms of community life. By scheduling the soap making training on a Friday , their day off, I could ensure greater participation.

I organized a meeting on Friday to create a seasonal calendar with the community. Together we mapped out key activities and periods of the year. Identifying when people were most available. The exercise was not only practical but also empowering, as it gave community members a sense of ownership over the planning process.

The following Friday, I facilitated the soap making training activity. This time, the turnout was remarkable, community members came out in large numbers, eager to learn, participate, and the training was successful, everyone took part.

With this experience taught me an invaluable lesson about community engagement, the plan may not work out as expected, but adopting a circumstance can turn challenges into opportunities and also by involving community members in decision making and aligning activities with their realities, participation becomes meaningful and sustainable.

As a CorpsAfrica volunteer, I have come to appreciate that development is not about imposing ideas but listening, learning, and working alongside communities. My soap making journey in Kiang Massembeh reminded me that time and empowerment comes from understanding people’s lives and respecting their priority.

The initial failure was not the end, it was the beginning of deeper understanding. By recognizing the importance of the seasonal calendar. I was able to transform a disappointing experience into a successful and impactful activity. More importantly, I build trust with the community showing them that their voices and reality guide work we do together.

In the end, the soap making training became more than just a skill activity. It became a lesson in patience, adaptability and resilience. It reminded me the challenges are part of the journey and success often comes after reflecting and adjustment.

As I continue my service, I carry the lesson with me as development is partnership, and timing is everything. By respecting the seasonal rhythms of community life , use and create activities that timely resonate,foster participation and leave lasting impact.

In conclusion, as a CorpsAfrica volunteer, we must always remember the seasonal calendar, it’s not just a schedule, it’s a guide to meaningful engagement. It tells us when and how to act, ensuring the effort aligns with the heartbeat of the community.