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The global community is grappling with various challenges, including climate change, food security, and economic instability. As solutions are sought, the youth—especially in Africa—are the greatest resource for a secure future. Consequently, governments and civil organizations are keen to harness this resource.

CorpsAfrica, a nongovernmental organization empowering youth through volunteerism, mutual learning, and community-led development, is answering this call. Under the theme ‘Leading with Ubuntu: African Youth Transforming the Continent’, the organization held its 2025 All-Country Conference (ACC 2025), bringing together more than 1,000 young change-makers, policymakers, philanthropists, and development partners from across Africa in Nairobi.

Speakers at the event unanimously called on African governments to institutionalize youth volunteerism as a pillar of national development. They urged policymakers to create enabling environments and align volunteer programs with broader socio-economic goals such as job creation, civic engagement, and education.

“At a time when Africa’s youth are calling for meaningful opportunities and a voice in shaping their future, we stand firm in our belief that they are the solution,” said Liz Fanning, Founder and CEO of CorpsAfrica.
She further added that CorpsAfrica’s vision is to cultivate a generation of African leaders rooted in community and committed to sparking sustainable change from the grassroots up.

Currently operating in 11 countries—Kenya, Ghana, Malawi, Rwanda, Senegal, Morocco, Ethiopia, Uganda, South Africa, The Gambia, and Côte d’Ivoire—the organization has inspired action by amplifying youth voices and grassroots solutions.

Highlighting the importance of grassroots leadership, Sheira Kasinja, a 2023 CorpsAfrica volunteer from Malawi, said, “As volunteers, we give the grassroots communities a picture that they do not have to give up and identify the ease of addressing a challenge by finding resources and implementing the solution. This sets a precedent, and they can do the same in the future on their own.”

This philosophy has gained momentum. In 2024, CorpsAfrica received 20,000 applications for just 400 volunteer slots across the continent—elevating the caliber and expertise of each CorpsAfrica volunteer. These young leaders join communities and collaborate with locals to implement impactful projects.

According to Dr. Samora Otieno, CorpsAfrica’s Chief of Programs, since 2011, the organization has deployed over 1,000 African volunteers to under-resourced rural communities—not to impose solutions, but to listen, collaborate, and implement low-cost, high-impact, community-led projects rooted in Indigenous knowledge.
“These aren’t just projects,” he emphasizes. “They’re transformative platforms for human-centered design and asset-based community development.”

Through volunteerism, CorpsAfrica volunteers have spearheaded over 10,500 social and economic activities and 425 small-scale, high-impact community projects since 2021, improving the lives of nearly 2 million people. From education and clean water access to food security and youth entrepreneurship, these grassroots efforts tackle Africa’s most pressing challenges—one community at a time.

One such initiative is the Mwangidzi Bridge Project in Neno District, Malawi. This climate-resilient project benefits eight villages and over 3,000 inhabitants.
“We can now go to the local health centre for medical care, our children can attend school, and we can access our farms and markets, which were initially impossible during the rainy season as the river would rise,” says Fanny Kamowa, a mother of school-going children whose community was impacted by the bridge.

Recognizing the long-term impact of volunteerism, Dr. Patricia King’ori-Mugendi, Country Director of CorpsAfrica/Kenya, notes: “We must reframe volunteerism—not as unpaid work, but as transformative leadership and professional development that accelerates public service for the 21st century.”

Government leaders echoed this sentiment. Speaking during the conference, Hon. Salim Mvurya, Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sport, challenged African nations to break free from donor dependency. He urged a collaborative approach where governments, local businesses, diaspora networks, and communities jointly invest in youth volunteerism programs that deliver tangible opportunities, social inclusion, and dignity.

“Africa’s youth have spoken with unmistakable clarity,” Mvurya declared. “They want jobs, not handouts; platforms, not patronage; and action, not promises. As policymakers, we recognize this reality. Young people aren’t waiting—they’re building. CorpsAfrica’s model proves what happens when we equip youth with both trust and tools to lead.”

CorpsAfrica is redefining volunteerism as a powerful professional pathway. By integrating service into education, employment, and national development frameworks, it is fostering an ecosystem where community-driven solutions fuel sustainable growth across Africa.