Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Alfred Gangata has asked Corps Africa Cohort 10 volunteers to spearhead development in rural communities and leave a lasting impact during their one-year service.
The minister, speaking in Lilongwe on Friday when he presided over the swearing-in ceremony of 97 volunteers, urged them to serve with integrity, lead with purpose and make a meaningful contribution to the communities where they will be deployed.
“When your service ends, let the community be able to point to something that has changed because you were there,” said Gangata.
He commended Corps Africa for investing in young people, saying its projects in agriculture, health, education, gender, environment and other sectors are in line with the National Youth Policy and Malawi 2063, the country’s long-term development strategy.
your impact. | George Singini
Corps Africa board chairperson Martha Kwataine said the organisation remained committed to empowering young people and developing rural communities.
She said they will invest $437 000 (about K778 million) in seed funding for projects to be implemented by the volunteers in their respective communities, with additional support expected from various partners.
Corps Africa Malawi country director Wongani Mugaba said the volunteer programme complements the National Youth Policy, which promotes national youth service.
One of the volunteers, Annie Joseph, said Corps Africa adequately prepared the volunteers with the skills and knowledge needed to integrate into communities and support local development.
In November last year, the United Nations declared 2026 the International Volunteer Year, calling on governments, organisations and communities worldwide to promote volunteerism in all its forms while fostering inclusive policies and ensuring volunteer contributions are recognised and measured.
