In the heart of my CorpsAfrica journey, I discovered that being a true facilitator goes hand in hand with mastering the art of listening. In the beginning, when I stepped into the community, I was more into understanding their culture, beliefs, and language than talking. Embracing the principles instilled during our CorpsAfrica Pre-Service Training, I listened more. Through this journey, I found that true understanding comes when we lend our ears more than our voices. The stories and experiences shared by community members became my guide, teaching me things you can’t find in books.
During the project identification phase, the magic of listening unfolded. Engaging with the community using innovative approaches, I was amazed at what I heard. From the struggle against hunger due to lack of farm inputs to the youth dropping out of school because of financial constraints, and the economic crisis affecting households. Every word the community members said carried weight. In these moments, I chose not just to hear but to truly listen. I silently absorbed the stories of resilience, the struggles, and the dreams of these communities. The true beauty emerged when I allowed them the space to articulate their ideas on overcoming challenges. As a silent observer, I witnessed the community’s inborn brilliance, innovative ideas, and survival mechanisms. In the end, I realized that every community has its special way of surviving. By being quiet and listening, I got to see their creativity and how they can tackle challenges.
Listening is the key to understanding. It’s not just sitting quietly; it’s like going on a journey where you learn a lot of beautiful things. Each community is different, and there’s so much wisdom beyond what we normally think. Listening isn’t just about hearing; it’s about understanding. I learned that communities have smart ways to survive. They came up with awesome ideas that could help their development, sharing thoughts, brainstorming, and agreeing on solutions. Being patient and listening to understand is where you learn a lot.
In those quiet moments, communities found common ground and discovered the power of working together. My CorpsAfrica journey showed me that being a good listener isn’t just a skill; it’s like a foundation for making real, positive changes. During this journey as a listener, I discovered a world where silence spoke louder than words.
