Written by CorpsAfrica/Malawi Volunteer Ms. Khwima Nyirenda

Dear newly recruited CorpsAfrica Volunteer Trainees,

Earlier this month I had the privilege to attend a Youth Volunteering Forum organized by Mzuzu Youth Office. Among many speakers that presented were United Nations Volunteers representatives were among who spoke to my heart. In a nation where people, especially the youth do not understand what volunteering is all about, I felt the message that was shared at that forum should not be just for a few that attended by all that are curious about volunteerism, and there is no better audience that the newly recruited CorpsAfrica Volunteers.

Amid the high employment rates being experienced by the youth in Malawi, the notion of volunteerism can often be vague. It can be tempting to volunteer for the wrong reasons. People can volunteer because they have nothing else to do and because they are just curious to find out when the work begins. True volunteerism does not depend on whether you have other things going on in your life, it’s about the little voice inside of you that tells you there is something you can do to change a bad situation. It a passion and it’s a personality. It doesn’t matter where you are, it doesn’t matter who you are. It’s a will to do something for your country, for your continent without expecting anything in return.

As much as you don’t need to have expectations, this new role you are about to embark on will literary change your life. You will grow in ways you never thought you would, and you will overcome things you never though you would. This new role will allow you to be as creative as you can get and you will discover at least one potential that you never thought you had.

May you contribute to the greatness of Africa, and I wish you the best service.

Yours truly,
Khwima