Volunteering at the Heart of Redefinition
Ever since I saw the banner by the road side in caps written “WELCOME TO BARINGO” I have been cornered by a repetitive thought of what actually is the chemistry behind volunteering. Volunteering is more than giving time- it’s about connecting with people, sharing what I can, and learning even more in return. These beautiful […]
Hearts That Connect, Hands That Teach
My name is Marguerite Umutesi, a CorpsAfrica Volunteer serving in Musanze District, Kinigi Sector, Nyonirima Cell, Kanyampereri Village. My journey as a volunteer has been filled with meaningful encounters and learning experiences that continue to shape how I view community development. This week, two moments stood out for me: one showed the power of human […]
A Language Bridge: My Journey to Winning Over My Host Mother
As I stepped into my host family’s home in the remote village of Naha, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions. Born and raised in Kumasi, the cultural hub of Ghana’s Ashanti Region, I had never ventured far from home. My first time leaving Kumasi was when I headed to the Upper West […]
The Power of a Smile
During my service with CorpsAfrica in Rwanda, I’ve come to learn that impact often hides in the simplest exchanges, like a smile. Not all smiles come easily. Some bloom instantly, bright, open, and ready to meet you halfway. Others take time, unfolding slowly like morning light, revealing stories hidden beneath the surface. A smile can […]
From Ghana to Kenya: A Journey of Service, Learning, and Adaptation
Having served in Ghana as a volunteer, my journey began with a six-week intensive pre-service training that prepared me to facilitate community development using Community-Led Development (CLD), Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), and Human-Centered Design (HCD). Those tools became more than concepts; they became my compass. During my community service in Ghana, they guided me through […]
From Fear To Belonging
“Questions for the gods to answer.”Funny enough, this was what came to mind after asking myself the following questions: “Do I have to convert to Islam before I can integrate with the people of Dehia?” “Should I take along a buta and hijab?” “Will the community be neat, or filled with scattered animal droppings?” “Is […]
Hands That Build, Hearts That Grow
When I began my journey as a CorpsAfrica/Rwanda Volunteer, I knew I was stepping into something meaningful, but I never imagined how deeply it would shape both the communities I serve and the person I am becoming. Service, I have learned, is not only about the structures we build; it is about the invisible bridges […]
From Dream to Reality: My meaningful journey as a CorpsAfrica Volunteer
The first day I arrived in the community (SouthWest Ethiopia, Shishinde (Keffa) District, Wana Bolla Kebele) as a CorpsAfrica/Ethiopia Volunteer, I was filled with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. To my delight, my host father was waiting for my arrival. I had already spoken to my host father before boarding the bus, and the […]
Building More Than Bricks
When I first received my deployment notice from CorpsAfrica/Rwanda to serve as a Volunteer in the Save Sector of Gisagara District, I was filled with fear and uncertainty. I remember the tears in my eyes as I packed my bags, wondering how I would adapt to a completely new community, far from everything familiar. Questions […]
From Seeds of Hope to Fields of Change
When I first stepped into Mutakara Village, the air was filled with voices of young people who carried dreams far larger than the opportunities around them. In every conversation, one idea kept returning like a refrain: passion fruit. To many, it sounded like a far-off dream, almost impossible to touch. Yet, it lingered in their […]