Learning to Balance More Than Just Loads
I have always hated carrying things on my head, whether a bag or a basin. The thought alone made me uncomfortable. It always looked painful, and I could never understand how people managed it so effortlessly. Back home, I avoided it altogether. I preferred carrying things in my hands, even if it meant struggling more. […]
The Community at the Frontline: A Journey of Collaborative Development
Community development is not just a process; it’s a vibrant journey fueled by collective effort. At the heart of this journey lies the community itself, a group of individuals who understand their needs and aspirations better than anyone else. In this journey, the voices of community members can shape the future as they articulate their […]
ADAPTING TO CHANGE
After attending my first in-service training, I was excited to collaborate with my community to select a project and develop the proposal. However, it soon dawned on me that I had to revisit a group of women I had initially worked with prior to the training. We had generated project ideas together, and they developed […]
In the Face of Adversity, Leaders Emerge
As a CorpsAfrica Volunteer, one thing that remains consistent throughout the service is the presence of challenges often with no obvious solutions. At times, it may seem like some problems have no answers. But the truth is, solutions do exist, we just have to dig deeper and look at things differently. From the moment my […]
Empowering Communities, One Project at a Time: Stories from CorpsAfrica/Malawi Volunteers
At CorpsAfrica, transformation begins at the grassroots — led by young African changemakers dedicated to driving sustainable development in their communities. Two such remarkable Volunteers from the 2024–2025 Malawi cohort, Jean Nazimera and Harry Bvumbwe, are embodying this mission through community-led initiatives that reflect the power of empathy, innovation, and service. Jean Nazimera is currently […]
A Battle in the Dark
It was a dark, rainy night in a quiet village, the only kind of sounds were raindrops drumming against tin roofs and the distant murmur of laughter from homes still buzzing with the excitement of the new year. Just hours earlier, the village had been alive with celebration singing, dancing, and the crackling of bonfires […]
Small Actions, Big Impact
When I first arrived as a CorpsAfrica Volunteer, I felt lost. I had so many ideas but didn’t know where to start. Should I talk to village leaders? Visit homes? Observe from a distance? Join a youth club?Play netball with the girls?One morning, as I wandered through the village, I heard laughter coming from a […]
Living in the shadow of the legend
When I first came to the village, I knew people would compare me to the previous Volunteer but I didn’t think it would be like this. Let’s call her Sarah (pseudonym) “Super Sarah”. Super Sarah was amazing, she would walk into a room and make everyone happy. She learned the local language very fast and […]
My Oasis
Moving to Malawi as a CorpsAfrica volunteer has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life. Leaving Kenya, my homeland, was not just a geographical shift—it was a cultural and emotional journey that tested my adaptability and resilience. The first thing I noticed upon arriving in Malawi was the striking cultural differences. From […]
The Thunderous Power of Lightning
Animal grazing is a norm among youths and the elderly here in my community. On a normal animal grazing day, some elders excited and laughing in the fields, and the air was thick with the sweet scent of grass experienced a shock when nature struck. Suddenly, the skies darkened, and the rains started falling heavily […]