Working with people in rural communities has always been my passion and I was happy when I started my journey as a CorpsAfrica Volunteer on 22 October 2023 to advance socio-economic development in Dedza District, Central Region of Malawi. It was a hot-sunny day indeed but I felt hotter due to the pressure I had within myself thinking about getting to live with people I never met, people who have different values, beliefs, and lifestyles from mine. Despite that, on the other side, I was happy to have completed the six weeks of Preservice training. As we reached the entry point of my community I did not see houses around except a primary school premise, then I asked my colleagues; “so what will I be doing here since the community seems to be almost empty?”.  A mile away from the school we saw plenty of houses and I was thrilled to see a crowd of women singing and dancing with excitement as I drew near to them they welcomed me warmly. This moment gave me more worries that these people have high expectations but it also relieved my fears because I started feeling at home.

After a challenging first month, I recognized the difficulty of the service, echoing our Country Director, Arthur Nkosi, who described it as “not for the faint-hearted.” Conducting meetings is challenging due to the community’s focus on farm activities, and the poor road conditions make travel dusty. Despite these challenges, people are committed, even attending emergency meetings. Despite the initial difficulty, there’s progress in making the community understand CorpsAfrica’s Development approach. In my volunteer role at a primary school, I initially found teaching 170+ learners burdensome but have since learned to manage a standard one class. This service helps address understaffing issues, reducing class disruptions due to teacher work overload.

What a contradiction, after being here for two months now I have realized that the community isn’t as empty as I thought in the first place. I observed that people in the community are experts in managing Irish Potato farming using indigenous knowledge, and kids learn how to do the farm work by the age of 8. This changed my impression of the community as I saw that the people in the community are not just mere community members but assets for the community. I also wondered why people keep plenty of cattle through an out-grazing system, now I have learned that they use the system to train the cattle as oxen.

At home where I came from almost every moment at a funeral was sorrowful and dull. I was surprised when I attended a funeral at my site where some people were crying whilst some of us were having fun watching the ‘’gule wa mkulu’’ dance which is mostly practiced in the Chewa culture. I also appreciate the sense of community that the members have especially when it is time for funeral or wedding ceremonies people leave behind their chores and gather to console the family in sorrow and also support each other with various gifts.

I value my experience working with my community and the support from colleagues, even during challenging moments. These difficulties, while sometimes emotional, have become opportunities for personal and professional growth. Inspired by Dorothy Height’s insight on community service, I focus on fostering equal participation, building connections, and tirelessly working toward positive change. Working outside my comfort zone for two months is a significant achievement.