The First Months to Remember
After completing my Pre-Service Training, which provided me with knowledge and skills, I was assigned to work in Chikwawa. From the day of my arrival until now, it has been a journey of treading new paths in life. “Rome was not built in a day,” so they say, but I guess that never applied to […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Rural Youth, Real Potential: Reflections on African Youth Month.
Every November Africa celebrates its most dynamic resource, its young people. But as we mark African Youth Month, I can’t help but reflect on what it truly means to be young in rural Africa, especially my community in Mwanza, Malawi. As a CorpsAfrica Volunteer serving in Mwanza District, I have had the privilege of working […]
Discovering the Extraordinary in Everyday Moments
When I arrived in Korrop, I didn’t realize that the smallest moments would teach me the biggest lessons about belonging. children chasing a goat along a dusty path, women sharing a basket of grains, women pounding flour over a wooden mortar with laughter, these simple, everyday moments carried a magic I had never experienced before. […]
How Simple Gutters Can Transform Water Security in Our Communities
Water is life, but in many rural communities, it is also a daily struggle. As climate change alters rainfall patterns and seasons become less predictable, every drop counts more than ever. Yet one of the most powerful tools for water conservation is also one of the simplest: gutters. As a CorpsAfrica Volunteer serving in Kakamega […]
Finding Purpose in Service
In the past, I often felt frustrated when I saw people living in poverty and saying that their struggles came simply because they had no money. I used to wonder how they could not see the opportunities around them, the raw materials and resources they already had that could help them improve their lives. Growing […]
Village life is a gentle clock, ticking with heartbeats rather than hours
As I reflect on my integration phase, I can’t help but feel overjoyed and warm-hearted by the way the community has embraced me. The opportunity to learn, connect, and share in the simple joys of life has been one of the greatest gifts since I began volunteering with CorpsAfrica. My first week was filled with […]