Stories of Transformation Through International Development Week and Beyond
A secure, sustainable and equitable future for all depends on how we all collaborate as citizens of the world.
This year, the focus of International Development Week, “Building a Better World Together,” highlights the importance of uniting to address the pressing challenges of our time. The role of volunteers is ever more evident as impactful forces of change. The work of our incredible community of volunteers helps to move the needle on important global issues such as gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health rights, poverty and food insecurity.
Our volunteers advance sustainable and long-term development by developing community-led and culturally sensitive projects that put the rights of marginalized groups at the center. Their experiences are transformational for both themselves and the communities they integrate with.
This week and all year long, we celebrate their stories, impact and unwavering commitment to making a difference.
In the Words of Our Volunteers
Organization: DUNK (Developing Unity Nurturing Knowledge), Ghana
At DUNK, volunteers support a mission to nurture vulnerable youth and children through tailored sports and education programs. Crossroads assists programs that help to advance gender equality and children’s right to play and leisure despite challenging circumstances. By equipping young people with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to build brighter futures for themselves and their communities, DUNK emboldens them to be leaders of their communities and uplift the next generations.
“One of my lifelong dreams was to be a big sister. Little did I know that I would find that role in a way far more profound and transformative than I could have imagined. Over the past three years, I’ve had the incredible privilege of connecting with, empowering, and inspiring over 100 young girls in Accra and Tamale. This journey has forever changed my life.
I became a Crossroader with the mission to change perceptions of the African girl child, to highlight her resilience, strength, courage, and beauty. The experience surpassed all my expectations. I not only formed deep connections with some of the most talented and inspiring young girls, but I also heard their stories—some heartbreaking and others filled with hope. Despite their past struggles, I had the honor of being part of their present, helping to pave the way for brighter, more promising futures”
Christine-Ashley Aryee, Communications Advisor
Organization: Crossroads International (West Africa)
Committed to strengthening our institutional commitment to environmental action, our volunteers play a crucial role in progressing essential conversations about how to adapt and mitigate our actions to help combat climate change. Through their dedication, we can adapt our practices, reduce our ecological footprint and be an example for our partner organizations to match their own measures. This is key to fostering a collective response to one of the most pressing global challenges of our time.
“During the first phase of my mandate as Environment and Climate Change Advisor, I achieved significant results. I drew up Crossroads International’s Environmental Strategy for West Africa 2024-2027 and the corresponding Environmental Action Plan. In addition, I gave four presentations to staff, volunteers and partner organizations at various events, outlining the key elements of this strategy and action plan. These presentations helped to raise awareness and mobilize stakeholders around concrete actions for a more sustainable future for the region.
Through professional development and cultural discoveries, the real value of our skills lies in the tangible results they bring”
Christine Kitoko, Environment and Climate Change Advisor
Organization: Network of Farmers and Pastoral Organisations of Senegal (RESOPP), Senegal
Driven by a vision of improving the living conditions of Senegal’s rural populations involved in agricultural and livestock farming, RESOPP helps through a union of cooperatives that cover production, agri-food processing and microfinance. Through hand-on contributions, Crossroads volunteers gain a first-hand insight into the resilience of young women and men and offer the expertise that enables their independence and long-term self-sustenance.
“RESOPP, an organization based in Thès and dedicated to improving the quality of life of people working in agriculture and fishing, is a well-established organization with experienced people who make the most of the volunteers’ time to benefit the beneficiaries. During my time with them, I visited a number of communes to see what life is like for the beneficiaries of RESOPP’s cooperatives, and I also interviewed community players such as women’s resource managers and the Association des juristes sénégalaises.
I had access to the testimonies of women and men from several age groups in order to document the situation in relation to traditional roles and the occurrence of gender-based violence. The people I met, either formally in the field or in focus groups, were very receptive and collaborative.”
Michele Turenne, Advocacy Advisor
Organization: Zanzibar Against Youth Challenges Organization (ZAFAYCO), Tanzania
In the face of challenges of unemployment, poverty, and societal apathy that Tanzanian youth contend with, ZAFAYCO steps in to spearhead knowledge-sharing and capacity-building initiatives and to ensure they feel confident in mobilizing resources, develop proposals, manage finances, participate in the political process, and much more. Crossroads volunteers collaborate with local experts to drive these development initiatives and facilitate long-lasting change.
“This was truly a life-changing experience for me. My role was to provide capacity-building support, which included assisting them in creating a communications strategy, developing social media strategies and helping them with content creation for all their external communications. It was inspiring to see how impactful communications could be for an NGO. It is such a powerful tool to raise awareness of the amazing work my organization is doing and to connect with people who truly want to make a difference.
My time in Zanzibar has taught me so much, not just about communications but about culture, connection, development, and so much more. I am very grateful to have been a volunteer at Crossroads in Zanzibar.”
Natalie Boag, Communications Advisor
Crossroaders of IVORY COAST
For the volunteers at Crossroads in Ivory Coast, supporting local organizations is so much more than a task – it’s a meaningful way to contribute towards sustainable development within sub-Saharan Africa. Volunteers help strengthen community development and sustain change for the future by infusing their knowledge into locally led initiatives. Their role allows them to meet directly with beneficiaries to witness firsthand the transformation in their lives. It is a gratifying experience to observe the impact of their input, and it reinforces the power of international development and collaboration.
Featured volunteers
- Nabindou Traole, External Relations Advisor, Cote d’Ivoire
- Ange Bessy Yao, Project and Program Management Advisor, Cote d’Ivoire
- Eric Nadje, Gender Audit Advisor, Cote d’Ivoire
- Louise-Andrée Boudreault, Digital Communication Advisor, Cote d’Ivoire
- Frédérique Adjo Kanga, Resource mobilisation Advisor, Cote d’Ivoire
The stories and testimonies of the volunteers of Crossroads highlight the power of the collective movement to advance equality for women and girls. Their passion, willingness to learn, and dedication show the smallest of efforts contribute to transformative realities. Let us all be inspired by their journeys to create a more inclusive, equitable and just world for the most vulnerable populations of our society.
