Written by CorpsAfrica/Malawi Volunteer Mr. Peter Mndalasini 

It has been over two weeks since I have stayed in my new community. I arrived in Kasungu District, which is located in the central region of Malawi on 15 December 2018. Though I have faced quite a number of challenges for the past two weeks, I will not put down my tools and leave my site. Almost everyone is busy in their farms hence it isn’t easy to meet and integrate with them. Village life is completely different from how I live back home in the city. There is no running water, poor roads, and a slow internet connection.

Walking around the village has made me realize that there is a lot to be done in the community and just like above going back to city life looks regretful. I have also realized that life is about making sacrifices for the sake of making an impact on other people’s lives. The road to success is not easy and life is not a bed full of roses. I am willing to experiment and try different ideas together with my community in order to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals.

I will help my community to uncover connections, tensions, and the principles underlying their issues; generate different ideas on how my community might move forward. Nelson Mandela once said, “It always seems impossible until it is done.” I will work with all my strength until what seems impossible in my community will be possible in the next six months to come.

I will try my best in order to make sure that everyone will participate and contribute their innovative ideas and solutions, which might bring change and long impacts in their lives and to the society. I am here in this village as a catalyst of sustainable development and my purpose is not to help but to build a different kind of environment together with my community. Together with my community we are going to bring change by involving every person in decision including the youths and women. I am a Facilitator and I am here to support the work of my community and also to share some of my unique gifts and capacities.

Forward I go with the six months service, No more turning until I will finish my service and bring a difference in my new community.