Located in the Lower River Region of The Gambia, Jiffin Community, like many rural areas, faces challenges including limited income opportunities, youth unemployment, climate vulnerability, and lack of reliable transportation, particularly during medical emergencies.

During his year of service as a CorpsAfrica Exchange Volunteer, James Kaguyu Njau from Kenya worked closely with the people of Jiffin to implement a variety of community-driven initiatives. These included computer skills training, soap-making, tie-and-dye, baobab sweets production, and environmental activities such as tree planting. Together, these efforts equipped community members with practical skills, increased household incomes, and strengthened resilience to climate change.

The project concluded with a community handover ceremony, a moment when full ownership of the initiative was formally transferred to the community. A highlight of the event was the handover of a community-led tricycle project valued at 166,300 GMD (~$2,300 USD), now managed by the Village Development Committee. The tricycle improves access to transportation during medical emergencies, serves as an income-generating service, creates jobs, and directly benefits more than 560 community members. The community also hopes to expand the initiative by adding more tricycles in the future.

What began as training sessions and community meetings has grown into stronger livelihoods, new job opportunities, improved emergency transport, and renewed confidence in the community’s ability to achieve its goals. This is the ripple effect of CorpsAfrica volunteer service, where locally driven solutions continue generating impact long after the service year ends.

James joined CorpsAfrica with a bachelor’s degree in Social Science, specializing in Community Development. Recently, he received funding through CorpsAfrica’s Matching Scholarship Program, which supports CorpsAfrica Alumni in covering gaps in funding for further education. James is now pursuing a Master’s degree in Business Administration, with the program providing funds for tuition and related expenses at recognized national and international universities. This support enables Alumni to focus on their studies, pursue ambitious goals, and successfully launch their careers after service, demonstrating CorpsAfrica’s continued investment in Volunteers and alumni beyond their service year.

Though it was a bittersweet farewell, CorpsAfrica is proud of James and the people of Jiffin for an outstanding year of service, partnership, and community-led development.