Green Fields, Stronger Futures: Volunteering with the Community
As the morning chill lingers, I’m out on the community farm, surrounded by the peaceful hills of Charuru and Nyambene. Today, like many mornings before, I’m harvesting fresh green vegetables alongside the community. There’s something deeply fulfilling about being connected to the earth, feeling the soil in my hands, and knowing that the crops we […]
Transformation is a continous journey
Transformation is a continous journey. “Why am I doing this again?” This is a question I asked myself a lot towards the end of my service in Uganda while preparing to go for the exchange program in Rwanda. In just a year my community and I had set up 92 kitchen gardens. We constructed 35 […]
A Heart for Service
My journey with CorpsAfrica/Rwanda began in May when a friend shared the application link for Cohort 6, I explored the qualifications and researched for more information, and after navigating the application process, I received an email on June 29th inviting me to an interview. On the interview day, I felt nervous but was captivated by […]
My Experience with Gari Processing: A November to Remember
As a CorpsAfrica Volunteer in a rural community in the Central Region of Ghana, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing and participating in the daily lives of the incredible people who call this place home. One of the most enriching experiences has been joining local women in their gari processing activities—a staple food in many […]
Community Asset Mapping: Putting the Work into the Hands of the Community
Recently, I had asset mapping with my community of service in the Murinda sub-location, Tharaka Nithi County. What stood out at the end of the exercise was how rich our rural communities are, with various assets that the community could utilize to address their needs. After the mapping, the community shared that they have even […]
Kickstarting Yatoi’s Transformation: A Pathway of Hope and Community Empowerment
Yatoi sublocation in Baringo County has embarked on a path to sustainable development through a successful Community Asset Mapping exercise. Facilitated by CorpsAfrica/Kenya, the event brought together 161 community members from Kapsoricho, Sirinyo “C,” and Kiwanja Ndege villages to identify their assets, challenges, and opportunities. Guided by the Community-Led Development (CLD) model, the process empowered […]
Breaking the Chains of Poverty: How Mindset Shapes Community-Led Development
Extreme poverty is not only about the absence of resources. It’s a mental trap that reinforces the cycle of deprivation. While many development programs focus on providing aid or infrastructure, they often overlook the internal barriers that prevent people from lifting themselves out of poverty. Changing this mindset is essential for sustainable and effective community-led […]
ABCD A Day, Gives You A Way
Apples are still my favorite fruit since they’re crispy, not sour, and not sweet. The most significant lesson I took away from my kindergarten teacher was that everything, even humanitarian efforts, must be done in moderation. I vividly recall how she managed to offer everyone the same amount of attention in an overcrowded classroom while […]
The Power of Volunteering: Working Together to Build a Better World
As an economist-in-training focused on rural areas and a development actor, I am deeply concerned with rural development, sustainable agriculture, the proper management of natural resources, and the protection of the environment. An activist for economic justice and inclusion, I volunteer with several initiatives doing important work in these fields, like Act for Senegal’s Rural […]
Chemistry to Community: Understanding the Catalyst Within
Let’s quickly go back to Chemistry class. Remember how catalysts work? Don’t worry—I’m not here to make you feel like you should have paid closer attention in high school! A catalyst is a substance that accelerates a reaction or provides the required change in temperature or pressure to ignite one, without being used up in […]