“We need a future where our youth don’t ask for a seat at the table—but build it.”— Liz Fanning, Founder & CEO, CorpsAfrica

With these powerful words, Day One of the 2025 CorpsAfrica All-Country Conference opened in Nairobi, Kenya — a bold celebration of youth-led change across Africa. Volunteers, alumni, staff, and partners from every CorpsAfrica country came together to reflect, reconnect, and reimagine what it means to lead with Ubuntu.

Hosted at the Kenya School of Government, the day began with an inspiring welcome ceremony that set the tone for a week of shared purpose and transformative conversations.

Opening Ceremony: Vision, Leadership, and Ubuntu in Action

Prof. Prof. Nura Mohamed, Ph.D, EBS , Director General at the Kenya School of Government, opened the conference with pride:

“Youth are trusted as partners in development. They are the future of this continent.”

He celebrated the institution’s role in hosting the conference and emphasized that youth have the capacity and resources to create lasting impact. “Leadership starts today,” he said. “We are proud to host and support the future of empowered youth in Africa.”

Dr. Patricia King’ori-Mugendi, Country Director of CorpsAfrica/Kenya, echoed the spirit of collaboration and ground-up innovation:

“Change begins when youth come together and co-create with the communities they support.”

She reminded the audience that CorpsAfrica’s power lies in its grassroots model. “Real change happens from the ground up,” she said. “We respond by creating real pathways for transformation and helping each other become more effective changemakers.”

Anthony Stephen Okoth, Chairman of the CorpsAfrica/Kenya Board, followed with a message of urgency and belief:

“What’s happening here is not just inspiration — it’s instruction. The world should look to Africa for models of youth-led leadership.”

He commended the volunteers and CorpsAfrica staff for showing what it looks like to lead with purpose and challenged all participants to see themselves not as the next leaders, but as leaders now.

Omar Laafoura, President of CorpsAfrica/Morocco, then introduced the founder of the organization. Liz Fanning, Founder and CEO of CorpsAfrica, grounded her keynote in hard truths and radical hope:

“The transformative experience of serving as a volunteer prepares you to succeed and lead.”

She spoke on the power of holding youth to high standards. “The world out there is hard,” she said. “But at CorpsAfrica, we mold our volunteers because we know what you’re capable of. We need a future where youth don’t ask for a seat at the table—they build it.”

Plenary Sessions: Learning From Our Roots

Following the welcome ceremony, the morning continued with two powerful plenary sessions that brought the entire CorpsAfrica community together.

The CorpsAfrica Story

This reflective session took participants on a journey through the origin and evolution of CorpsAfrica — from the seeds of an idea to a Pan-African movement. Founders, early staff, and long-standing leaders shared pivotal moments in the organization’s history and highlighted the core values that continue to guide its work. It was a powerful reminder that every volunteer today is part of something much bigger — a growing legacy of service, resilience, and community-driven change.

Storytelling 101 & 201 – Your Story is Your Power

Led by master storyteller Joel ben Izzy, dynamic youth leader Kelo Kubu, CorpsAfrica/ South Africa Country Director, and CorpsAfrica Director, Africa Communications Nadia Abdalla, this session explored the power of storytelling as a leadership tool.

“CorpsAfrica’s work is rich in stories — stories that move hearts and open doors.” – Joel ben Izzy

Attendees learned how to reflect on their service journeys and craft narratives that connect, persuade, and inspire. From body language to emotional truth, participants discovered how personal stories can shape public perception and drive meaningful change.

Music, Movement, and Continental Celebration

Throughout the day, our MCs Lotan Salapei (Kenya) and Nelly Rwagitera (Rwanda) kept the energy high — blending music, laughter, and spontaneous dance. Songs from every represented country played, and the stage often turned into a dance floor.

A powerful highlight: Country Directors from each CorpsAfrica office introduced their national delegations and shared project highlights — showcasing grassroots transformation from Senegal to Malawi, Ethiopia to Morocco.

Afternoon Breakout Sessions: Skills, Strategy, and Shared Wisdom

In the afternoon, participants joined breakout sessions tailored to their roles and growth areas:

Expectation Management in Professional Settings

Facilitators Moses Cofie and Christine Muuthia led a candid conversation about building healthy working relationships, setting boundaries, and navigating team dynamics in a service environment.

Volunteer Support and Safety: Best Practices

With insights from Mohamed Mhmmoudi and Tigist Tedesa, this session focused on creating systems of care for volunteers — including physical safety, mental health, and responsive supervision in rural or high-stress placements.

Building High-Performing Teams: HR and Growth

Arthur Nkosi and Fred Ruzindana unpacked what it takes to recruit, manage, and retain mission-aligned teams. Participants explored team-building strategies and discussed how to scale without losing impact.

Volunteer Engagement: Lessons from the Field

In this practical peer-to-peer exchange, Dorothy Mapira, Magombe Musanziru, and Siham El Boukhari shared lived experience and best practices on mentoring volunteers, sustaining motivation, and strengthening alumni networks.

Reflections on Day One

As the sun set on the first day of the CorpsAfrica All-Country Conference 2025, one thing became clear: this was more than an event — it was a convergence of purpose, possibility, and people committed to reimagining Africa from the ground up. Every moment, from the spirited opening remarks to the deeply thoughtful breakout sessions, underscored the transformative power of youth when they are trusted, equipped, and united by a shared mission. What unfolded at the Kenya School of Government was not just a celebration of what CorpsAfrica has achieved — it was a call to action for what still lies ahead. 

It reminded us that leadership is not a title or position, but a choice to serve, listen, and co-create lasting change. Across borders and beyond language, the energy in the room reflected a continent ready to rise — not through aid or instruction, but through its own people. The volunteers, staff, and leaders present are not the future — they are the now. And through CorpsAfrica, they are building a legacy of service that speaks to the very heart of Ubuntu: I am because we are.