Explore stories of service, connection, and transformation directly from CorpsAfrica Volunteers across the continent.
My journey is not yet over but I have much to share. Stepping into an under-resourced community, I was met with challenges that seemed insurmountable. Yet, through the lens of Human-Centered Design (HCD) and Asset-Based...
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In the heart of my community, where development faces unique challenges, lies a source of unwavering commitment and determination: “Women”. Their active involvement in community meetings concerning the development of Hamunyepo village serves as the...
Imagine a mother lifting lit firewood for her child to do homework, children staying in total darkness for hours at night till they develop eye conditions, families earning 5 dollars a week through casual labor...
If someone had told me that I would become a school teacher at some point in my life, I would have never believed them, no matter how many alternate realities there may be ( Spiderman’s...
In CorpsAfrica’s effort to ensure empowerment in people, both the African youths and the under-sourced communities in Africa have majorly benefitted; the youths through gaining tremendous knowledge, exposure, and getting a chance to impact African...
As a CorpsAfrica Volunteer, mentoring youth has become important to me. I’ve learned that knowing, loving, and protecting every child is so important. Working closely with the young members of our society has not only...
As we are actively engaging the community to come up with the desired project, this has given me an avenue to understand and embrace the importance of community participation in a project. Apart from the...
Dans le silence accablant de ma première nuit à Sass Mack, un village sérère inconnu, j’ai ressenti l’écho de l’incertitude et de la peur résonner dans chaque recoin sombre. Tout était nouveau et étrange, et...
Après une semaine d’immersion dans le cadre de mon service volontaire à CorpsAfrica Sénégal, je ressens le besoin de partager mon incroyable aventure dans le paisible village de Wassataké, niché au cœur des îles Amorophiles...
This is my fourth month of volunteering in my community. A community that has been gracious to me, allowing me to pursue what I love. This at times however falls short when covering up the...
“The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life,” (Richard Bach). When I first landed in Balaka, my CorpsAfrica site, living with strangers...
The concept of development is an essentially contested one admitting to a variety of incommensurable competing interpretations. Arguably, development is not only difficult to define but also in terms of measurement. As much as development...
Written by CorpsAfrica/Malawi Volunteer Ms. Tiyamike Makuluni As a young girl from Lilongwe my hometown and who just graduated from college, joining CorpsAfrica Malawi marked not just my initiation into the workforce but a profound...
It has been four months since I started my volunteering journey with CorpsAfrica. The first thought I had in my mind was that I might not make it. But the people have the power to...
Perseverance, patience, and resilience have surely been learned and exercised. An entire three months have gone by since I became a northerner. Fully immersed in the culture, traditions, and language of this new site, I...
Volunteering has given me a platform of expression where my deepest desire dwells, being a development enthusiast and finding the opportunity to understand community development issues at the grassroots level has propelled me to even...
As I navigate the ups and downs of mastering bicycle riding, I ponder whether introducing concepts like Community-Led Development, Human-Centered Design (HCD), and Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) might pose similar challenges for the community. Just...
Filled with anxiety, fear, and nervousness, a new chapter had begun in my life, September 23, 2023, to be exact. A life away from home and family, and this is someone who has never been...
In my community like many other communities in Malawi, access to safe and sustainable menstrual hygiene products is still a challenge that is constantly faced. As a way of eradicating this particular challenge, I trained...
In the heart of Mchinji, Malawi, where the regularity of life is guided by tradition, I embarked on a transformative journey as the first CorpsAfrica Volunteer in this rural community. Leaving the comforts of home...
During my IST-1 training, while conducting presentations on community project ideas, I realized that an often-unspoken challenge for some community developers in the project identification phase is distinguishing projects that genuinely serve the greater good...
Sometimes I like to curl up in my comfortable position and scroll through the videos and photographs, moments captured while spending time with my fellow volunteers. A smile escapes my lips unknowingly, and a deep...
CorpsAfrica imekua kufikia maeneo mengi ya vijijini. Sio tu kwa njia za kuleta maendeleo bali hata kwa njia wanazotumia ili maendeleo haya yakubalike vijijini. Kuwashirikisha wanakijiji kumekuwa chanzo cha wao kukubalika kwani kumewafanya wanakijiji hao...
Living among my community members has been a transformative journey, not just for them, but also for me as a Volunteer. In my role facilitating community-led development, asset-based community building, and human-centered design initiatives, I...
For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to have a pet growing up, but it was not practical due to unavoidable circumstances. When I embarked on this journey with CorpsAfrica, I...
Three months into my deployment as a CorpsAfrica Volunteer in Mbondoni, Kenya, marked a significant milestone in my journey of community empowerment. Attending In-Service Training 1 (IST-1) was not just about learning; it was a...
While growing up in my country, I noticed that the majority of men did not know how to cook or even hold a cooking spoon. I used to think that this was a religious thing....
Welcome to my second and final blog of the year as we step into 2024! A heartfelt Happy New Year to all. It’s been an incredible journey during my three-month service as a Corps Africa...
As a CorpsAfrica Volunteer in my community for the past three months, my primary focus has been on honing essential skills—observation and listening. These skills have not only allowed me to understand the unique challenges...
As a CorpsAfrica Volunteer, having to live far away from home with communities that don’t speak a similar language as you can be quite terrifying. Being a volunteer and having this huge passion for helping...
On the day I was deployed to my site, I felt stressed and anxious about being away from my family and friends for some time. However, I was also excited about the opportunity to learn...
I never thought it was possible to comfortably work, enjoy, and build trust and relationships in a community in which you have zero background. To be honest, things are indeed easier said than done but...
As I sojourned on the path as a CorpsAfrica volunteer in the Umande sub-location for the past three months, the excitement of making a difference collided with the challenges of being a stranger in an...
Working with people in rural communities has always been my passion and I was happy when I started my journey as a CorpsAfrica Volunteer on 22 October 2023 to advance socio-economic development in Dedza District,...
As a CorpsAfrica Volunteer, my three months of service have been transformative. Stepping into a different community, I’ve not only dedicated my time to uplifting its spirit but also found myself celebrating the festive season...
“Malicounda Sérère”, c’est ma terre, vieille d’environ trois siècles. Elle a été fondée lors des premières migrations serères de la vallée de la rivière à la recherche de terres agricoles. Aujourd’hui, administrativement, elle est située...
