By Robert, Volunteer for Change team October 2025
Establishing Roots at CICD After Two Months
It is hard to believe how quickly two months have passed since my arrival at the College for International Co-operation and Development (CICD) in England. It has been an exciting time filled with meeting new people, discovering subjects, and experiencing something different. Now that I’m halfway through my first training, it seems like the ideal time to take a look at those factors that motivate me and the difficulties that make me grow.
I: The Highlights of the Energy That Links Us
The atmosphere here is vibrant if I had to sum it up in one word. Living and learning alongside people from around the globe who are all driven by the same purpose—to change the world—brings a powerful energy. Despite the fact that our cultures, languages, and life stories are diverse, there is a strong, joyful vibe among us.
Everything we do is impacted by this energy. Our global issues classes are lively debates where all viewpoints are respected rather than being passive lectures. However, education does not end in the classroom. My favourite memories to date come from our community events:
● The friendly competition on Sports Day.
● The collaborative work of a building weekend, during which we actually renovated buildings for our college campus.
● The laughter at Karaoke Night, when we support one another despite our lack of musical ability!
● Working together to prepare group presentations, in which we combine our diverse skills to produce something outstanding to what any one of us could do on our own.
● The relationships I’ve formed with my classmates have been perhaps the biggest highlight. Together, we navigate this challenging journey, cook, and clean. We’ve been fortunate to avoid major disputes thus far, and this peace has given us all a secure and encouraging base.
Finding a connection with life’s pragmatic aspects has been a fantastic part of this journey. I have had the opportunity to learn about organic farming and have developed a deep affection for making things by hand.
It’s been extremely enjoyable to learn how to make homemade mint tea from our garden, to make delicious jam and jelly from an apple harvest, and even to make washing detergent from conker nuts. These abilities are more than just hobbies; they teach us about sustainability, independence, and how to value the resources we have.
II: The Soil for Growth: Navigating Challenges
Of course, there are difficulties that come with any time of rapid growth. These are not failures; rather, they are an environment in which we begin to set our roots and gaining knowledge that will be essential in the field.
1. Balancing Energy and Time
This place has a full schedule. It can be difficult to figure out a balance between classes, community work (such as cooking and cleaning), and individual study. I frequently find myself considering how to balance my workload with finding time to call my family back home and enjoy some time to myself.
*The Learning: This is our first lesson in self-care and project management. We’re learning how to support one another when someone is feeling overwhelmed and how to use planners. It serves as an exercise for the challenging setting of a development project, where maintaining peace of mind is essential to preventing burnout.
2. Overcoming the Linguistic Gap
There are a wide range of English proficiency levels in our global community. I’ve found that some of my friends don’t always understand me when I talk too quickly. Both sides may experience moments of frustration as a result.
*The Learning: This has been a lovely lesson in empathy and patience. I’m getting better at checking for understanding and slowing down. We are learning how to communicate from the heart, not just how to speak English. This is perhaps the most important skill we can take to Africa.
3. Getting Ready for Upcoming Storms
Listing “no conflict” as a challenge may seem unusual, but I’ve been considering it. Even though there is a lot of cooperation, I know that conflicts are expected in any team, especially when things get stressful. I’m aware that an argument will probably come up eventually.
*The Learning: In my opinion, I see this as an opportunity. Here is a safe space to practise a minor conflict. We can work together to find a solution and learn how to respectfully disagree. Learning these skills now is an advantage to having to deal with a major argument for the first time in Africa.
Looking Ahead
I am feeling a mixture of nervousness and excitement as I begin the third and last month of this training. While the difficulties have taught me resilience and patience, the highlights have brought me happiness and a strong sense of community. Through the people in my life and my own personal development, I am living development every day rather than simply learning about it in a classroom.
This journey is preparing us not just with knowledge, but with the heart and skills to be effective, empathetic, and resilient Development Instructors. And for that, I am incredibly grateful.
Until next time,
Robert
