Wednesday, June 18, 2025, marked a milestone moment for the CorpsAfrica All-Country Conference 2025: the Public Day, when ideas met institutions, communities met changemakers, and the movement opened its doors to the world. 

With the theme “Looking Forward: Community-Led Development, African Philanthropy, Pan-Africanism, and Cultural Exchange,” the day offered a sweeping view of what’s possible when Africa’s youth, leaders, and partners step forward together.

Opening Panel: African Philanthropy — Owning Our Development, Driving Our Future

Before any official speeches, the day opened with a bold challenge to rethink how development is funded — not as an external solution, but as an internal engine. The panel, “African Philanthropy: Owning Our Development, Driving Our Future,” moderated by MK Richardson, CorpsAfrica’s Chief Development Officer, featured powerful voices from across the ecosystem:

• Pauline Mbayah, Executive Director, Stanbic Kenya Foundation
• Hon. Justus Kangwagye, Board Member, CorpsAfrica/Rwanda
• Omar Laafoura, President, CorpsAfrica/Maroc
• Jenifer Sheriffa Tabbal Tabbal, Volunteer, Corpsafrica/Gambia
• Opening story by Esther Gunsalu, Volunteer, CorpsAfrica/Malawi

“We must reframe philanthropy not just as giving, but as investing in the futures we believe in.”– Hon. Justus Kangwagye, Board Member, CorpsAfrica/Rwanda

Panelists shared stories of local resource mobilization, diaspora giving, and volunteer-led fundraising in remote communities. The message was clear: Africa is already funding Africa — and it’s time the world took note.

Opening Remarks: Purpose, Partners & Public Power

The official session began with Dr. Patricia King’ori, Country Director of CorpsAfrica/Kenya, emphasizing the significance of volunteerism in transforming communities across the continent. She expressed her pride in CorpsAfrica’s Kenyan delegation and thanked key stakeholders for walking alongside them.

She then welcomed Liz Fanning, Founder & CEO of CorpsAfrica, to the stage, who remarked:

“I’m happy to have members of the Kenyan government witness the impact CorpsAfrica is making firsthand.” — Liz Fanning

Liz spoke passionately about the alignment between government priorities and CorpsAfrica’s mission — community-driven, youth-led change rooted in service and solidarity.

Government Addresses: From Policy to Partnership

The program then moved into high-level government remarks — a powerful symbol of alignment between national vision and grassroots action.

“The young person in the 21st Century today is a volunteer, problem solver, and co-creator — and I am proud to be here with them.” — Hon. Jacobs Fikirini, Principal Secretary, State Department for Youth Affairs

“African youth are not only the future — they are also the present!” — Hon. Salim Mvurya, Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports

Together, they affirmed CorpsAfrica’s role in bridging service, governance, and impact, with youth firmly at the center.

Booth Tours & Celebration

The mid-morning program flowed into an open exhibition of country booths — vibrant, visual showcases of CorpsAfrica’s grassroots work. From local impact dashboards to photo stories and volunteer-designed tools, the booths brought the organization’s community-first model to life.

Meanwhile, MCs Lotan Salapei (Kenya) and Nelly Rwagitera (Rwanda) kept the momentum going. Their humor, cultural fluency, music cues, and seamless transitions turned formal segments into connected conversations.

“From spontaneous dance-offs to multilingual crowd call-outs, Lotan and Nelly reminded us that joy and connection are at the heart of this movement.”

Panel Two: Youth and Communities in the Driver’s Seat

This breakout session, moderated by Rachel Ishimwe (CorpsAfrica/Rwanda), brought together voices from policy, media, grassroots organizing, and service to answer one question: What does it look like when communities truly lead?

Our Panelists included:

• Prof. Kivutha Kibwana , Former Governor, Makueni County
• John Munyiri, Director, Media Council of Kenya
• Wabi Sherie , Founder, Soma Siri
• Blen Yemane Yemane, Volunteer, CorpsAfrica/Ethiopia

With themes of Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) and Human-Centered Design (HCD), the panel emphasized that ownership, not instruction, is what drives lasting change.

“When communities lead, solutions stick. When youth lead, the future is now.”- Prof. Kivutha Kibwana, Former Governor, Makueni County

Panel Three: The Spirit of Ubuntu — Building the Africa We Want

The day’s final panel brought us back to values — the moral glue of CorpsAfrica’s work. Moderated by Nelly Rwagitera, the session explored how Ubuntu — “I am because we are” — can guide everything from institutional development to youth-led diplomacy.

Opening remarks came from Victoria Ndebugri Wintonya, a Ghanaian Volunteer serving in Senegal.

The Panelists included:

• Pempho Chabvuta Chabvuta, African Union
• Nisan A. Abdulkader, Shelter Afrique
• Victoria Ndebugri Wintonya , CorpsAfrica/Senegal

“Ubuntu isn’t just a feeling — it’s a foundation. It’s how we build institutions and relationships rooted in solidarity.”- Pempho Chabvuta, African Union

Closing & Celebration

Dr. Samora Otieno, Chief Program Officer at CorpsAfrica, delivered closing reflections filled with gratitude and vision. Participants then gathered for a group photo — a moment of pride, unity, and promise.

The day concluded with an elegant VIP Reception, an internal dinner celebration, and a spirited Disco Night that turned purpose into dance and solidarity into song.

Final Thoughts: Looking Forward, Rooted in Us

Day Three was a declaration of confidence in Africa’s present. The voices of youth, the trust of partners, and the openness of government created a rare, inspiring synergy. Across every panel, booth, and handshake, one message rang clear:

Africa’s future is being written — and CorpsAfrica Volunteers are holding the pen.

This wasn’t just a public day. It was a public reckoning with what’s possible — when trust, talent, and community rise together.