How Mama Kampundu Turned Me into a Farmer
At first glance, the photo looks calm and joyful. Two women are smiling, surrounded by green banana trees, holding freshly harvested crops. Everything appears peaceful. What the photo does not reveal is that just a few minutes before it was taken, my arms were silently questioning every life decision I had ever made. The amazing […]
Finding my place in Siwol
I had spent hours—maybe days—rehearsing my speech. Sticky notes everywhere. Imagining the perfect Wolof accent. That morning, my friend Maty Mbaye BA called. Her voice full of patience and drama. “Emily, are you ready? Just relax.” I tried. I really tried. However, my internal monologue had other plans. What if I forget everything? Why do […]
Empowering Matriculants: A motivational talk for a brighter future
CorpsAfrica came into my life at a point where I had decided that I wanted to use my story to help shape the next generation, but I did not know how to go about it. Being part of CorpsAfrica has deepened my understanding of what it means to serve and drive change. The alignment between […]
Becoming Part of the Community
Before joining CorpsAfrica, I used to believe it took months, sometimes even years, to feel comfortable in a new environment. Many of my friends felt the same way. From high school to university, integrating into a new space always required patience and time. It felt manageable because we were surrounded by people of our own […]
One Word at a time: Where I Was Sent, Not where I Expected
My name is Yaya Cham, a CorpsAfrica Volunteer serving in the Upper River Region of The Gambia, in a community called Yerro Bawol. The community is predominantly Fula, and the people speak the Fula dialect. When I joined CorpsAfrica, I assumed volunteers would be deployed to communities that matched their ethnic backgrounds or at least […]
From a Heart for Service to a Life of Impact: My CorpsAfrica Journey
Before I joined CorpsAfrica/Maroc, volunteering had always been part of who I was. Since childhood, I loved social work and spent my free time helping local associations in my small city. When I graduated, the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in 2020 and changed everything. I spent a year searching for structured volunteering opportunities, especially with the […]
Learning from Selepe: Reflections from a Community-Led Volunteer Experience
I am currently doing my community-led volunteer service in Selepe, a small and privately owned community in the Moretele District of the North West province. It is a place that may appear quiet at first glance, but once you spend time there, you realise how full it is of knowledge, resilience, and deeply rooted ways […]
From Stranger to Sister: My 7-Week Journey of Belonging as a CorpsAfrica Volunteer
Seven weeks ago, I arrived in my host community full of excitement, curiosity, and a touch of nervousness. I didn’t know the routines, and every face was new. But today, as I walk along the community paths to the nursery school, children call me madam, women wave from their stalls, and youth stop me to […]
Starting Small, Growing Strong
My journey with CorpsAfrica Rwanda started on May 15, 2025, when I submitted my application to become a volunteer. I didn’t know what the future held, but I had hope and the courage to face it. After a few weeks, I received an email inviting me to an interview. I prepared myself and went in […]
Finding Family Under the Tharaka Sky
25th September 2025 marked the beginning of a beautiful journey; a new life in Tharaka-Nithi, located many kilometers from the capital city. This not only marked a new environment but also signified a need to transform my lifestyle, mindset, and life objectives. Among the many changes I have experienced since moving to volunteer here, the […]