Chikondi Dula

What happens when young people are given the tools, trust, and opportunity to act? A story from my experience in Rwanda.
During my exchange volunteering with CorpsAfrica in Rwanda, I worked with a group of 73 youths in Dutare, Huye District.
The main challenge was youth unemployment caused by limited income-generating opportunities.
Together, we established a tree nursery and piggery project to create both environmental and economic impact.
We developed a 40,000 seedling nursery with avocado, mangoes, passion fruit, tree tomatoes, and eucalyptus. The avocado and mango seedlings were grafted to improve quality.
Each youth also built a pig pen and received a piglet to raise at home—helping them diversify income while supporting the nursery with manure.
Today, I am truly encouraged by the impact even after leaving the community.
🔸The youth have sold most of the seedlings, generating over 3,500,000 Rwandan Francs, and they are reinvesting the income to expand the project.
🔸Each member also planted 10 fruit trees at home as a long-term investment. Every participant now has a healthy pig growing at home.
🔸Beyond income, they have built strong skills in nursery management, including grafting, and developed a strong culture of weekly savings.
What makes me happiest is seeing the transformation, young people who were once idle are now actively building their own livelihoods.
The journey was not easy, Language barrier and adapting to a new culture tested my adaptability. But it was all worth it.
Today, I remain connected with the youth, local leaders, and the CorpsAfrica team. What we built is more than a project—it became a family.
I am deeply grateful to CorpsAfrica for the opportunity to serve.

of service

I’m thrilled to share that I participated in the CorpsAfrica AI Masterclass led by Power Learn Project on June 18th at the Kenya School of Government in Nairobi, Kenya.

During this transformative session, we explored the practical power of Artificial Intelligence in communication, business, and branding. We demystified tools like ChatGPT, DeepSeek, Perplexity, and Canva AI, and dove into real-world applications.

As part of this journey, I had the opportunity to:
✅ Build a fully functional website
✅ Develop a comprehensive business plan
✅ Master AI-powered upskilling tools
✅ Refine my prompt engineering skills

This experience has not only equipped me with in-demand digital skills but also opened up new perspectives on how AI can drive innovation in community development and entrepreneurship.

A big thank you to CorpsAfrica and Power Learn Project for this empowering opportunity!

As part of our ongoing tree nursery project in Dutare, the southern province of Rwanda, we’ve integrated a piggery component: a strategic move to enhance the sustainability of our initiative. This integration not only ensures a steady source of organic manure for the nursery beds but also provides an alternative income stream for the youth involved.

We’re proud to share that 57 young people each received a piglet to raise at home, empowering them with responsibility and economic opportunity while contributing to our broader environmental goals.

This is a strong step forward in building resilient, climate-smart communities through agroforestry and youth empowerment.

From June 16th to 20th, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the 2025 CorpsAfrica All-Country Conference (ACC) at the Kenya School of Government in Nairobi, under the theme: “Leading with Ubuntu: African Youths Transforming the Continent.”

The ACC brought together CorpsAfrica Volunteers and staff from 11 African countries, creating a vibrant space for networking, reflection, learning, and cultural exchange. It was an exciting moment to unite with fellow changemakers who are committed to sustainable development and youth empowerment across the continent.

We engaged in a variety of powerful sessions led by global experts on artificial intelligence, fundraising, career coaching, governance, and more; each one challenging us to think bigger and act bolder in our communities.

A major highlight was hearing the inspiring story of Liz Fanning, the Founder and Executive Director of CorpsAfrica, along with an early board member. Their journey of resilience and unwavering belief in African youth reminded us of the power of vision and local leadership.
The week concluded with a memorable Cultural Gala Night, where we celebrated the rich diversity of Africa through traditional dance, music, food, and fashion. Truly, there is beauty in diversity!

Attending the CorpsAfrica ACC renewed my passion and commitment to community-led development and reminded me that together, we are building a stronger and more united Africa.

Empowering Youth Through Climate-Smart Solutions

I’m proud to be working alongside 73 dynamic youths from Dutare village, Huye District, Southern Province of Rwanda on a youth-led tree nursery project that aims to produce 40,000 fruit and forestry seedlings.
This initiative goes beyond environmental restoration — it’s a strategic response to food insecurity, youth unemployment, and climate change. It equips young people with practical skills in nursery management, agribusiness, and leadership.

Our key goals include:
🔸Promoting environmental sustainability through increased seedlings availability
🔸Enhancing youth economic empowerment through seedling sales
🔸Improving community nutrition through the production of fruit-bearing trees

These seedlings will play a vital role in agroforestry, afforestation, and reforestation efforts across the region.
As a facilitator, I’m truly inspired by the collective ownership and passion these young people have shown. When youth are empowered with knowledge and trust, they become powerful agents of change.
So far, we’ve successfully sown 10,000 avocado and 5,000 mango seeds — a significant step toward our 40,000-seedling goal. We're also integrating advanced grafting techniques to ensure the seedlings are fast-growing, high-yielding, and disease-resistant.

This project is a powerful example of how community-driven solutions, with youth at the center, can effectively address the climate crisis.

"The room was packed. My heart pounded as I stood up. This was my moment to speak; not just for myself, but for my community."
On March 27, 2025, I had the incredible opportunity to pitch our community-led tree nursery project, which aims to establish a nursery bed capable of holding 40,000 seedlings, during CorpsAfrica/Rwanda Pitch Day. It was my first time pitching a project in front of government officials, organization representatives, business leaders, local authorities, and community members, a moment I was filled with both excitement and nerves.

Preparing for the pitch was intimidating as I knew most of the audience spoke Kinyarwanda, a language I’m still learning, and the responsibility of representing my community at such a crucial event weighed heavily on me. But I took a deep breath, embraced the challenge, and delivered the pitch. The result? Overwhelmingly positive feedback, new partnerships, assistance, and funding to bring our project to life!

This experience strengthened my public speaking skills, confidence, and ability to communicate effectively. I’m incredibly grateful to the CorpsAfrica/Rwanda for their unwavering support throughout the preparation and event; their feedback and encouragement made this moment truly memorable.

But our tree nursery project is not just about reforestation but is also a sustainable, income-generating initiative for 73 youth in Dutare village, Huye, Rwanda. We plan to integrate piggery farming to diversify income sources for these young people. This project will improve the economic status of youth, strengthen nutrition security in the community, conserve the environment through reforestation, and develop tree nursery management skills among youth for long-term sustainability.

By addressing these key areas, we are directly contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals and creating lasting impact.

Opportunity!!!, Interested? Apply!

Ready for an Unforgettable Adventure? Become a CorpsAfrica/Malawi Volunteer!

The call for applications is officially open! Apply now to join the next cohort of CorpsAfrica/Malawi Volunteers and embark on a life-changing journey of service and impact.

Deadline for receiving applications: 30 April, 2025
Apply here: https://bit.ly/3Dtq9Ea

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"Today, I celebrate another year of life, the journey of purpose, and the unwavering faithfulness of God. Every challenge has been a lesson, every blessing a reminder that His grace is ever-present. As I step into another year, I embrace new opportunities to serve, grow, and make a difference. Grateful for a life filled with purpose, passion, and impact! ✨

CorpsAfrica/Rwanda Friends, Muraho!

Our highly anticipated 22nd edition newsletter is out now! Dive into our Volunteers' incredible work with their communities since January!

Click here to access your copy👉👉https://bit.ly/4hLMUBK