Thursday was a turning point where possibility met preparation, and purpose found new pathways. On Day Four of the CorpsAfrica All-Country Conference 2025, the energy shifted toward the future. The day was structured to help Volunteers, alumni, and participants explore the question: “What comes after service?”
The answer came in the form of a vibrant Opportunity Fair, real-time mentorship, design sprints, and over 25 practical workshops. And when the learning paused, the celebration began with the Ubuntu Gala Night, a cultural showcase of unity, rhythm, and reflection. This was CorpsAfrica in full motion, planning, dreaming, and dancing forward.
Morning Inspiration: Turning Service into Strategy
The day began with a powerful keynote by Carol Spahn, Director of the U.S. Peace Corps and a CorpsAfrica Board Member. She spoke about how service has the power to unlock futures — not just for communities, but for the Volunteers themselves.
“Experiential learning is not just a bridge — it’s a launchpad. Service equips youth with the courage, creativity, and skills they need to shape tomorrow.” — Carol Spahn
Her message resonated deeply with the audience, many of whom are in the early stages of turning service into sustainable careers, ventures, or further studies.
Panel 1: Preparing Youth for Tomorrow’s Economy
Moderated by CorpsAfrica/Kenya alumna Stella Kidera, the first panel featured leaders Matthew Grollnek Lead, Employability and the Future of Work, Mastercard Foundation, Caroline Njuki, Chief Technical Advisor, ILO Kenya, Martin Ndlovu, Head of Product, Gebeya Inc., and Marieme Aidara, CorpsAfrica/Senegal alumna who opened with a stirring personal story.
“We must prepare youth for what books can’t teach — adaptability, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving in real time.”
The panel discussed the disconnect between traditional education and evolving labor markets, and how programs like CorpsAfrica are bridging the gap through immersive, skills-based service. Youth, they affirmed, must be equipped not only to participate in the economy, but to reshape it.
Panel 2: From Vision to Reality: Entrepreneurial Insights for Youth
The second plenary turned ideas into blueprints. Moderated by alumnus Peter Hobson Moenga, this session spotlighted powerful women entrepreneurs across Africa:
- Aisha Shuaibu , President, SWA Sports
- Mumbi N. , Executive Director, Power Learn Project
- Vika Shipalana , branding strategist and founder of VS Luxury Group
- Augustina Tufuor, founder of Tropical Snacks
“A dream without a roadmap is a wish.”– Mumbi Ndung’u, Executive Director, Power Learn Project
They spoke candidly about overcoming fear, securing capital, and staying authentic in business. The audience left with insight, but more importantly, with practical tools for turning vision into action.
Design Sprints: Innovating Solutions for Systems Change
Two invite-only Design Sprint sessions gave thought leaders, volunteers, and partner reps the chance to co-create solutions to big questions around dignified youth employment and ecosystem trust.
Facilitated by Prof. Mugendi M’Rithaa, Julita Bhagat, and others, the sessions used Human-Centered Design principles to rapidly prototype ideas, build empathy, and challenge assumptions.
“What would it take for partners to trust youth with resources from day one?”
“How might we design a pathway where dignity and opportunity coexist?”
Answers started to emerge, not final, but evolving.
The Opportunity Fair: A Marketplace of Pathways
By mid-morning, the Opportunity Fair came to life, buzzing with organizations, recruiters, funders, and mentors ready to support Volunteers in their next chapter.
Participants connected with employers and funders, including Mastercard Foundation, UNV, Kenya Airways, Power Learn Project, KCA University, Nexford, and Standard Bank Mentors, offered one-on-one coaching, résumé audits, mock interviews, and scholarship guidance. Headshot stations and LinkedIn optimization hubs. A colorful Maasai Market featuring artisan goods and souvenirs, “The energy in the room felt like possibility, not just talk, but tools.” It wasn’t just networking, it was mobilizing futures.
Workshop Highlights: Practical Skills for a Changing World
Three rounds of workshops ran through the afternoon, each led by industry professionals, alumni, and thought leaders:
Career & Job Market Readiness
- Understanding the Modern Job Market – Austen Stranahan, Shortlist Futures
- Navigating the Digital Job Search – Mwende Kamau, Oxford HR
- Crafting Your Winning Resume – Gathoni Mwangi, Kupa Global
- Interviewing with Confidence – Peter Irungu, Oxford HR
Entrepreneurship & Innovation
- Blueprint for Success – Julita Bhagat & Sarah Mpapuluu
- Idea Validation – Martin Ndlovu, Gebeya Inc.
- Business Plan Development – Augustina Tufuor
Personal & Professional Growth
- Personal Branding – Winnie Gor, Winnie Gor Communications Africa
- Networking with Purpose – Gathoni Mwangi
- Scholarship Navigation – Panels featuring Mastercard Foundation, Nexford, and others
Thematic Explorations
- Global Trends in Volunteerism – Nichole Cirillo, IAVE
- Youth & Climate Action – Souad El Maleh, Aissatou Dieng, Samuel Mue
- AI for Productivity – Charles Kimani, AI Kenya
Participants were seen moving between sessions with notebooks, business cards, and that unmistakable look of “I’ve found something I needed.”
Ubuntu Gala Night: A Celebration of Spirit and Solidarity
As night fell, the conference transformed, welcoming everyone to the Ubuntu Gala Night, a radiant celebration of culture, music, and unity.
From West African drums to Moroccan poetry, from Kenyan cuisine to Rwandan dance, the event was a living canvas of Pan-African pride. Volunteers dressed in their traditional attire, blending elegance with joy, and the dance floor quickly became the most powerful session of all.
“Ubuntu isn’t just a word. It’s a rhythm — one that carried us through the night.”
Day Four reminded us that opportunity is not just something we wait for. It’s something we prepare for, walk toward, and — when we’re ready — embrace. From design sprints to digital storytelling, from interview prep to cultural pride, every part of the day reinforced CorpsAfrica’s mission: to invest in young Africans who lead from within.
The future isn’t just coming. It is in the room.