Biography
Chérif Abdoulatif Coly is a young Senegalese professional passionate about community development, youth engagement, innovation, and community empowerment. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Socio-Anthropology of Rural Development from the University of Sine Saloum El Hadji Ibrahima Niass (USSEIN). He is also pursuing a Professional Bachelor’s degree in Computer Networking at the Institut Supérieur d’Informatique (ISI), having completed a Higher Technician Diploma (DTS) in the same field. His academic background combines social sciences, rural development, and information technology.
Chérif has diverse experience in community development, volunteering, and social engagement. He joined CorpsAfrica/Senegal as a Cohort 9 Volunteer, where he worked with a rural community to identify local needs, mobilise community resources, and support local development projects. During his service, he applied approaches such as Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), Human-Centred Design (HCD), and Community-Led Development (CLD). He gained experience in community mobilisation, participatory mapping, project planning, and project monitoring. He also supported the development of a one-hectare vegetable garden project designed to create economic opportunities and support women in the community.
Beyond CorpsAfrica, Chérif has been involved in various volunteering and development activities. He has worked with the Senegalese Red Cross, Nouvelles Alternatives Sud (NAS), UN Online Volunteering, and other youth and development initiatives. These experiences helped him strengthen his skills in community mobilisation, facilitation, communication, teamwork, project management, monitoring and evaluation, and youth engagement. His studies in computer networking have also equipped him with skills in computer networks, Linux administration, and digital technologies, which he considers valuable tools for development and innovation.
Motivated by a strong desire to learn, share, and contribute to positive change, Chérif is participating in the CorpsAfrica Exchange Programme in Malawi. He is excited to learn about Malawian culture and communities, discover new approaches to community development, and share his experience from Senegal. Through this experience, he hopes to strengthen his professional and intercultural skills, gain new perspectives on community development, and build meaningful relationships with communities, Volunteers, and development actors. He also hopes to apply what he learns to continue supporting sustainable initiatives that create opportunities and empower communities.
