Donate

About Us

Our Mission

CorpsAfrica trains and connects African youth with rural communities to create solutions that alleviate poverty, enhance livelihoods, and build resilience, while cultivating a pan-African movement rooted in volunteerism, entrepreneurship, and community-led development.

Our Origin Story

CorpsAfrica was founded in 2011 by Liz Fanning, a former Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV). The organization was created to provide young Africans with a transformative experience that enables them to participate in the development process in their countries and discover their role in today’s world.

While serving as a PCV in Morocco, Liz met young Moroccans eager to become PCVs and support their own communities, but she had to tell them it was only open to Americans. That exchange sparked the idea for an organization built on the simple belief that African youth are the catalyst for lasting growth in Africa. 

How we Work

We train Volunteers in human-centered design, asset-based community development, project management, and monitoring and evaluation. For up to a year, they live with host families in remote villages, fully immersing themselves in community life.

By listening closely, building trust, and working alongside residents, Volunteers co-create small-scale, high-impact projects that reflect local priorities and promote resilience through community ownership.

Learn more about our model and approach

Our Lasting Impact

Since launching its first program in Morocco in 2011, CorpsAfrica has expanded to 11 countries across the continent and plans to reach all 54 African nations within the next decade.

So far, we’ve placed more than 1,200 Volunteers across Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, and Uganda. Together, they’ve completed over 800 community-led projects, building wells, schools, roads, and irrigation systems, establishing education programs, and supporting vegetable and livestock farms.

By investing in African youth and rural communities, CorpsAfrica tackles cycles of poverty while preparing the next generation of leaders to drive lasting change across the continent.

Explore our impact

Our Core Values

The CorpsAfrica model is built on values that put local ownership at the heart of everything we do. These principles are as community-driven as the projects themselves, ensuring that every initiative reflects the priorities, strengths, and vision of the people we work alongside. We are committed to creating meaningful, lasting change, and we hold ourselves accountable for the results we deliver.

Locals helping locals

Young Africans can be part of the solution for their own countries. By relocating to remote communities in their own countries for one year, they fully integrate by learning local customs, participating in daily activities, and becoming trusted community members.

Collaboration

CorpsAfrica Volunteers serve as liaisons between their communities and the outside world, including a wide range of Development Partners such as NGOs, development-related businesses, government officials, academics and social entrepreneurs. These Partners share their expertise and assist with project implementation.

Listening and capacity building

We stress the importance and power of listening. Volunteers lead change by engaging people in conversations and facilitating community meetings. Development efforts are most effective when they are “demand driven,” giving community members the opportunity to identify problems and to take the lead in solving them.

Monitoring and evaluation

No effort is complete without thorough monitoring and evaluation. Volunteers are taught how to facilitate a needs assessment in local communities and measure impact and sustainability. CorpsAfrica measures the effect on the lives of volunteers who have gained valuable grassroots community development experience.

Accountability and transparency

It is critical to demonstrate successes as well as failures to Development Partners, communities, and other stakeholders, so we can be held accountable for everything we do. It keeps us motivated and encourages us to be the best we can be. 

“I learned so much during my service, how to communicate with people of all ages, adapt to new environments, and stay flexible in any situation. I strengthened my problem-solving skills, built confidence by trying new things, and embraced new foods and routines. These experiences gave me a true sense of achievement and made me proud of myself.”
Asmae Amechnoug
Asmae AmechnougMorocco Volunteer
“My favorite activity in the community was meeting with the women from the 23 GIEs. I discovered that they all had the drive to succeed, but many believed that working together slowed progress instead of advancing it. Leadership challenges had also weakened their trust in the groups. This activity was powerful for me because it created space for open and honest dialogue, and it reignited the women’s commitment to working together.”
Maryam Banel Batul Faye
Maryam Banel Batul FayeSenegal Volunteer
“My CorpsAfrica experience gave me hands-on training in project management, community engagement, and problem-solving. I strengthened my ability to navigate challenges, adapt to new contexts, and develop innovative solutions. These skills continue to shape my personal and professional growth and prepare me to make a lasting impact in the future.”
Endington Wa Kavuli
Endington Wa KavuliMalawi and Senegal Volunteer
"Before joining CorpsAfrica, my perception of rural communities was shaped by generalizations. I imagined them as lacking modern amenities and facing significant socio-economic challenges. Through my service and immersion in the community, I came to see them differently. The people are welcoming, hardworking, skilled, and knowledgeable, and the community itself is rich in resources and assets that support their growth."
Tida Jarra
Tida JarraGambia Volunteer
“When I worked with the community to explore ways of raising the 10% contribution, I initially assumed they would contribute in cash. Instead, the members secured piecework that covered nearly 75% of the amount. This experience showed me that communities are fully capable of creating their own solutions to transform their lives. I learned the importance of first seeking out community-driven approaches before offering my own ideas, so that together we can find the best path forward.”
Wongani Siula
Wongani SiulaMalawi Volunteer

Our goals

Our goals are the compass that guide CorpsAfrica in our efforts to achieve youth-driven, collaborative, African-led development.

Engage

Engage African youth in community-led service that builds pathways to purposeful, successful careers.

Inspire

Inspire a strong pan-African community and network of public service.

Connect

Connect rural areas to the resources and innovations of diverse NGO partners.

Build

Build the capacity of rural villages to create self-sufficiency in every sector.

Support Our Work

CorpsAfrica addresses two of Africa’s most difficult challenges: engaging youth and helping rural communities overcome extreme poverty. We recruit and train motivated volunteers to live and work in rural, under-resourced areas in their own countries. They collaborate with the community to design and implement small-scale projects that address their top priorities and, by doing so, gain the skills and experience that lay the foundation for personal and professional success.

CorpsAfrica trusts youth and communities to help each other. 

CorpsAfrica is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization – Federal tax ID#: 45-2470692

Ways to Support