What if you had a chance to create yourself? To choose your complexion, and gender and determine your stature, would you have designed yourself to look the way you look now? What if you had a chance, to choose a life for yourself, your circle of friends, social economic status, job, and a family for yourself, would you have chosen your life to be as it is now? Would you have maintained the same height and same complexion, what about body size? Would you have maintained the same circle of friends, same Job, same educational levels, and same family?
In the year 2023, I had the privilege to attend an interview with CorpsAfrica for a Volunteer position and I happened to be the seventh to go and meet a three-personnel panel. After the interview, I went straight into a bus heading home, got on my bed, and made a few calls to my closest friends. Though, not so sure, I told them, “I guess this could be my opportunity. I gave out my best. ”Several weeks later, I embarked on a journey filled with a mixture of excitement and nervousness.
Fast-forward, to 5 months into the service, enjoying traditional dances, foods and beverages, and social interaction with my community, not forgetting the usual African rumors surrounding our rural community settings in regards to witchcraft, this one scared me the most. Above all, empty-headed as I felt when joining, I have gained so much knowledge, skills, and experience in diverse community development approaches and tools such as ABCD and HCD; I never meant to take you back in class anyway. Cumulatively, I now confidently feel more than ready and prepared to face the employment market across the globe as my levels of professional exposure have changed, not to leave out my understanding of rural development, especially community-led development. Isn’t this worthy of bragging?
Back to my question, if I had a chance to do another service with CorpsAfrica/Malawi despite having a feeling that I am fully groomed now and prepared to face the job market, and not disregarding memories of living in a community rural setting, would I be excited to do the service again? What about your honest opinion, will you be willing to serve again?
Joining CorpsAfrica/Malawi, as a very young, fresh, and coming out straight from the corridors of college, gave me a chance to serve where most employers couldn’t see my relevance, perhaps age and experience were the biggest barriers, not so sure of gender. Thank you CorpsAfrica for grooming me into a meaningful individual now through training and community experience. CorpsAfrica/Malawi has provided me with an open and free environment to learn and interact. I strongly feel the next service would enable me to learn more skills and knowledge and also enhance my exposure to developmental issues across the world. Once a CorpsAfrica Volunteer, always a CorpsAfrica Volunteer.
