Liz Fanning

The moment that sparked my passion

In my 20s, I served in the Peace Corps in a remote, mountainous community in Morocco. One day, I was at café in Marrakesh and struck up a conversation with a local woman. She asked why I was in the country. Excited by my answer, she asked if she could join the Peace Corps too, and I had to tell her no, it was only for Americans. Her question dogged me for the next 20 years as I did fundraising for numerous organizations. When the economic crisis hit in 2008, I decided I wanted to get back to helping people in poverty. After working for another nonprofit, I decided to start my own organization to finally provide an affirmative answer to give that woman from the café, and many others like her,  the opportunity to serve, which they deserve.

What I wish other people knew

People in Africa aren’t looking for saviors. They’re looking for partners and resources so they can help themselves. Each of the projects we work on is comanaged by a local counterpart and requires investment from the local community — the best ways to ensure they remain sustainable after our volunteer leaves.

Inspired by the Peace Corps, young Africans are eager to help improve their country — last year, 1,700 people applied for our 56 spots. In return, the youth get the satisfaction of knowing they’re making a difference, and they acquire skills and make connections that will further their own careers.

Advice to others who want to make a difference

I always say I never knew what I wanted to do but I spent my career preparing for it. My 25 years of fundraising experiences are what allowed me to start this organization in 2011 and hit the ground running. When people tell me they want to do something similar, I advise them to make sure their ego is in check, let the project find them, and be flexible. Even in Africa, where our volunteers from the cities think they know poverty, they discover pretty quickly how humbling it is to live in a village without running water or electricity. That humility is what enables them to be of greatest service. Also, don’t be afraid to fail. Just roll up your sleeves and get to work.

Why my approach is unique

Our volunteers arrive at their villages with no preconceived agenda. We train them to listen to the community so they can become a facilitator, a liaison and a friend. Each country we work in has distinct needs, as does each rural village. Our model represents an important shift toward African-led development. It’s our hope that this approach will help to break the cycles of rural poverty, youth unemployment and aid dependency across the continent.